Edoxaban in venous thromboembolism and stroke prevention: an appraisal

Abstract

Oral anticoagulation is the therapeutic cornerstone in preventing thromboembolic risk in both atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE). After decades of the sole therapeutic oral anticoagulation option being warfarin, the introduction of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants has heralded a new era. Edoxaban is the latest addition to these available for clinical use. Edoxaban was as effective and safer than warfarin in preventing thromboembolic risk in AF patients. Similarly, edoxaban effectiveness and safety was evident when treating VTE patients to prevent recurrent VTE or VTE-related death. Therefore, edoxaban represents a valuable alternative in treating thromboembolic risk for AF and VTE patients.

Keywords:

• atrial fibrillation
• venous thromboembolism
• stroke
• anticoagulation
• edoxaban

Disclosure

GYHL has participated in steering committees and trials, including steering committees for various Phase II and III studies and health economics and outcomes research, and been cochair of the ENSURE-AF trial with edoxaban, an investigator in various clinical trials in cardiovascular disease, including those on antithrombotic therapies in AF acute coronary syndrome, and lipids, a consultant for Bayer/Janssen, Astellas, Merck, Sanofi, BMS/Pfizer, Biotronik, Medtronic, Portola, Boehringer Ingelheim, Microlife, and Daiichi-Sankyo, a speaker for Bayer, BMS/Pfizer, Medtronic, Boehringer Ingelheim, Microlife, Roche, and Daiichi Sankyo, and has received a nonpromotional departmental educational research grant for a postdoctoral research fellow from Daiichi-Sankyo. MP reports no conflicts of interest in this work.