Updates on Coagulation: Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs)

• Autor(a) principal: Figueiredo, Isabel Vitória
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Outros Autores: Lavrador, Marta, Freitas, Ana Margarida, Madureira, Brenda, Campos, Carla Mendes, Gonçalves, Elisabete Vale, Machado, Francisco, Fortuna, Jorge, Feio, José, Castel-Branco, Margarida, Catarino, Helena, Caetano, Marisa, Marques, Nuno Vilaça, Almeida, Paulo Tavares, Oliveira, Catarina Luz Rodrigues
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• DOI: 10.25756/rpf.v10i4.184
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.25756/rpf.v10i4.184

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have appeared as a therapeutic alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). NOACs introduction has changed oral anticoagulation. They are clinically indicated for the prevention of thromboembolic phenomena in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and for the primary and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism, specifically deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.Accounting for the growing use of these anticoagulants, it is important to enhance the knowledge about them, namely their clinical indications, special precautions in use, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics, dosing information and monitoring forms.As a consequence of this growing awareness, the Portuguese Association of Hospital Pharmacists (APFH) came together to discuss critical aspects regarding this issue. Based on the current available scientific evidence, APFH aimed to adopt a consensual position on key aspects and new updates on coagulation.The results and conclusions of this meeting focused on the reasons for choosing between VKAs and NOACs. When it comes to NOACs, the working group focused on the monitoring needs, risk populations, half-lives, questions regarding adherence, pharmacological interactions, contraindications and precautions, available antidotes, mechanisms of anticoagulation evaluation and switch between different anticoagulants.