Can We Rely on RE-LY?

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Abstract
In patients with atrial fibrillation, warfarin prevents 64% of strokes.1 Thus, warfarin has become the recommended treatment for candidates for anticoagulation therapy who have atrial fibrillation and at least one additional risk factor for stroke.2 Despite clear and consistent recommendations,3 warfarin is prescribed to only two thirds of appropriate candidates.4 Several factors contribute to suboptimal use of warfarin therapy: drug and dietary interactions, inconvenience of monitoring the international normalized ratio (INR), risk of hemorrhage, and concerns about real-world effectiveness, which averages 35%.4 Thus, new oral anticoagulants are needed.Dabigatran etexilate, an oral thrombin inhibitor, appears to be an anticoagulant that . . .