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Practice Guideline
. 2023 May;21(5):1381-1384.
doi: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.02.008. Epub 2023 Feb 14.

Recommendation on the nomenclature for anticoagulants: updated communication from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Scientific and Standardization Commitee on the Control of Anticoagulation

Geoffrey D Barnes  1 , Walter Ageno  2 , Lana A Castellucci  3 , Thita Chiasakul  4 , Renee Eslick  5 , José L Ferreiro  6 , David Gailani  7 , Diana A Gorog  8 , Gregory Y H Lip  9 , Leslie Raffini  10 , Suely M Rezende  11 , Jeffrey I Weitz  12 , Adam Cuker  13
Affiliations
Practice Guideline

Recommendation on the nomenclature for anticoagulants: updated communication from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Scientific and Standardization Commitee on the Control of Anticoagulation

Geoffrey D Barnes et al. J Thromb Haemost. 2023 May.

Abstract

Oral anticoagulation therapy has evolved beyond vitamin K antagonists to include oral direct thrombin inhibitors and factor Xa inhibitors. Collectively known as "direct oral anticoagulants," this class of medications represents the current standard of care for the prevention and treatment of common thrombotic disorders, including atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism. Medications that target factors XI/XIa and XII/XIIa are currently under investigation for several thrombotic and nonthrombotic conditions. Given that these emerging medications will likely have distinct risk-benefit profiles to the current direct oral anticoagulants, may have different routes of administration, and could be used for unique clinical conditions (e.g., hereditary angioedema), the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Subcommittee on Control of Anticoagulation assembled a writing group to make recommendations on the nomenclature of anticoagulant medications. With input from the broader thrombosis community, the writing group recommends that anticoagulant medications be described by the route of administration and specific targets (e.g., oral factor XIa inhibitor).

Keywords: anticoagulant; atrial fibrillation; factor XII; factor XIa; factor Xa inhibitors; venous thromboembolism.

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Conflict of interest statement

DECLARATION OF COMPETING INTERESTS

G.D.B.: Consulting for Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen, Astra Zeneca, Acelis Connected Health, Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific

W.A.: Advisory Boards for Aspen, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Leo Pharma, Norgine, Sanofi

L.A.C.: Dr. Castellucci’s Research Institute has received honoraria from Amag Pharmaceuticals, Bayer, BMS-Pfizer Alliance, The Academy, LEO Pharma, Sanofi, Servier, and Valeo. Dr. Castellucci holds a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada National New Investigator Award, and is a Tier 2 research Chair in Thrombosis and Anticoagulation Safety from the University of Ottawa.

T.C.: None

R.E.: Speaker fees for Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Viatris

J.L.F.: Speaker or consulting fees from Eli Lilly Co, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Abbott, Ferrer, Rovi, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Biotronik and Terumo.

D.G.: Institutional research grants from AstraZeneca, Werfen, Medtronic, Bayer, Alpha MD, and speaker frees from AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim.

D.A.G.: Institutional research grants from AstraZeneca, Werfen, Medtronic, Bayer, Alpha MD, and speaker frees from AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim.

G.Y.H.L.: Consultant and speaker for BMS/Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi-Sankyo, Anthem. No fees are received personally.

L.R.: Consulting for Janssen, CSL Behring, Genentech, Boehringer Ingelheim

S.M.R.: None

J.I.W.: Served as a consultant and received honoraria from Abbott, Alnylam, Anthos, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo, Ionis, Janssen, Merck, Pfizer, Regeneron, and Servier

A.C.: Served as a consultant for Synergy and the New York Blood Center and has received authorship royalties from UpToDate.

References

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    1. Wheelock KM, Ross JS, Murugiah K, Lin Z, Krumholz HM, Khera R. Clinician trends in prescribing direct oral anticoagulants for US medicare beneficiaries. JAMA Net Open. 2021;4:e2137288. - PMC - PubMed
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    1. Husted S, Lip GYH, De Caterina R. Recommendation on the nomenclature for oral anticoagulants: communication from the SSC of the ISTH: comment. J Thromb Haemost. 2015;13:2130–2. - PubMed
    1. Kluge KE, Seljeflot I, Arnesen H, Jensen T, Halvorsen S, Helseth R. Coagulation factors XI and XII as possible targets for anticoagulant therapy. Thromb Res. 2022;214:53–62. - PubMed

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