Oral anticoagulants are commonly prescribed in patients with kidney diseases having atrial fibrillation and thromboembolic risk. It is very important to understand their clinical pharmacology and changes that may occur as GFR declines. Risks and benefits of newer oral anticoagulants are different in patients with CKD and patients with ESRD. Patients with GFR < 30 ml/min per 1.73 m2, including those on dialysis, were systematically excluded from landmark trials. All of the NOACs are dependent on renal clearance to some degree and so the risk of NOAC associated bleeding may be expected to be greater in patients with renal failure. Apixaban may be at least as safe as (or possibly safer than) warfarin in individuals with ESRD. Until more data become available, use of dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and edoxaban in patients with CKD stage 5 and ESRD is not indicated. Available strategies for reversing the anticoagulant effect of NOAC are - specific reversal agents available for dabigatran (idarucizumab) and for the oral direct factor Xa inhibitors - andexanet alfa, antifibrinolytic agents, DDAVP and prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs). In this review clinical and pharmacological aspects of newer oral anticoagulants in the setting of chronic kidney disease will be discussed.
© Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 2011.