Praktické lekárnictvo 4/2013

Current possibility of prevention and pharmacotherapy of venous thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), the third most common cardiovascular disease, describes deep vein thrombosis as well as its most serious complication pulmonary embolia. The number of risk factors contributes to incidence of VTE, in particular extensive surgical procedures, the serious acute and exacerbation of chronic diseases. According to very high mortality of VTE, its prophylaxis plays a key role. Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis and treatment of VTE is mainly based on standard heparin and its derivatives (pentasaccharides and low molecular weight heparins, LMWH, hirudins and antagonists of vitamin K. The administration of fibrinolytic agents is strictly defined. The new oral anticoagulants, gatrans and xabans, have recently been introduced in clinical practice and due to positive results of clinical analyzes their thromboprophylactic indication was extended to therapeutic, too.

Keywords: venous thromboembolism, heparins, warfarin, rivaroxaban.