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Urgent reversal of anticoagulants – lessons for practice

2 July 2025
In recent years, there has been a switch to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) as first-line thrombosis prevention, with fewer people started on a vitamin K antagonist, such as warfarin. This has led to an increase in number of people taking anticoagulants and, therefore, an increased risk of intracranial and intracerebral haemorrhages and gastrointestinal bleeds. Listen to Richard Buka, Clinical Research Fellow Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Birmingham, discuss the challenges clinical teams face in the reversal of these drugs. He explores the findings of recent trials of Andexanet alfa and considers how effective these drugs really are and what it means in practice.

Speaker 

Dr Richard Buka, Clinical Research Fellow Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham 

Learning objectives  

  • To understand what direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are used in the UK and why they are prescribed more than warfarin   
  • To learn what are the most common reasons to necessitate urgent reversal of anticoagulation and how effective current treatment is   
  • To explore the findings of the Andexanet alfa trials, the most used agent for DOAC reversibility   
  • To develop an understanding of the protocol challenges of Andexanet alfa and how it can be best used in practise  
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AstraZeneca has provided a sponsorship towards this independent programme. AstraZeneca has had no editorial input into or control over the agenda, content development or choice of speakers, nor opportunity to influence except for the AstraZeneca sponsored symposia presentations. The remainder of the programme has remained under the full editorial control of the British Journal of Cardiology.

AstraZeneca has provided a sponsorship towards this independent programme. AstraZeneca has had no editorial input into or control over the agenda, content development or choice of speakers, nor opportunity to influence except for the AstraZeneca sponsored symposia presentations. The remainder of the programme has remained under the full editorial control of the British Journal of Cardiology.

 

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