Via practica 6/2009

Venous thromboprophylaxis in angiological practice

Parenteral heparin and oral coumarin preparations represent the standard antithrombotics widely used in the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin, and fondaparinux have been shown to be effective and safe in reducing VTE risk. Despite high efficacy these medicaments have limitations which become to be more apparent with current widening of the indications for either primary thromboprophylaxis (PTP) or indefinite and even lifelong secondary thromboprophylaxis (STP). There is a need for new effective and safe medicaments with specific antithrombotic action, oral administration and convenient dosing without monitoring. During the last decade new venous antithrombotics have been developed either blocking selectively one coagulation enzyme or inhibiting particular step in coagulation cascade.

Keywords: veins, venous thromboembolism, primary and secondary thromboprophylaxis, heparin, new venous antithrombotics