Overview
Anticoagulant therapy is the use of medications that interfere with the blood coagulation cascade to prevent the formation or extension of pathological clots and to reduce the risk of thromboembolism. It is indicated across a range of conditions, including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation, mechanical heart valves, and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, and is particularly relevant in settings of heightened thrombotic risk such as malignancy. The agents act at different points in hemostasis: vitamin K antagonists reduce synthesis of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X; unfractionated and low-molecular-weight heparins potentiate antithrombin; and direct oral anticoagulants selectively inhibit thrombin or activated factor X. Effective and safe use depends on understanding the underlying coagulation physiology, including the roles of coagulation factors and natural regulatory proteins, abnormalities of which can themselves cause inherited or acquired bleeding tendencies. Therapy is individualized to balance prevention of thrombosis against the inherent risk of hemorrhage, with monitoring requirements that vary by agent. Laboratory assessment may involve prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, anti-factor Xa activity, or thrombin time, and certain dysfibrinogenemias prolong these tests. Reversal strategies and bridging considerations are important in surgery and bleeding. Ongoing research refines dosing, patient selection, and management of anticoagulation in complex clinical scenarios.
Research published in this journal
5 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
Understanding Inherited Bleeding Disorders: Genetic Mutations in Blood Coagulation Factors and Regulatory Proteins
Pericardiocentesis Procedure: Anatomical Structures and Approaches
Haematological Disturbances in Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever - its Pathogenesis and Management Perspectives
Prolonged Thrombin Time in Asymptomatic Patient with Hypo Dysfibrogememia Tucson
How this research is being cited
The 5 articles above have been cited 13 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
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Archana Sreedharan et al. · 2024 · Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine
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Yogeshwar Parmanand Kapgate et al. · 2024 · Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
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2024 · Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine
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A. Begum et al. · 2023 · Bangladesh Critical Care Journal
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2023 · Bangladesh Critical Care Journal
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2022 · International Journal of Advances in Medicine
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B. Sivakajani et al. · 2021 · Jaffna Medical Journal
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V. Thadchanamoorthy et al. · 2020 · Tropical Medicine and Health
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Anticoagulant Therapy, linking to each citing work.