No risk of bleeding with the new oral anticoagulants or in the case of a change in treatment, assures the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) in a press release after publication of two scientific studies carried out as part of the monitoring of these drugs. medications.
Oral anticoagulants are drugs used in the treatment of prevention of thromboembolic events (ischemic stroke, pulmonary embolism, etc.). Prescribed to thin the blood, they can increase the risk of bleeding.
Among them are the antivitamin K (AVK) which are the reference drugs and, since 2012, the direct oral anticoagulants (DOA).
Two French scientific studies carried out by the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) and the National Health Insurance Fund for Salaried Workers (CNAMTS) (everything must be included, otherwise we do not understand the acronym!) Have been carried out. to establish the risks of bleeding from new oral anticoagulants (DOA) compared to standard treatments anti-vitamin K (AVK) and those of a change from treatment with AVK to treatment with DOA.
The risks of new anticoagulants
This study, carried out by the CNAMTS, involved 71,589 patients. “The results observed are reassuring regarding the risks incurred by patients on DOAC, as observed in the short term. They do not show any excess risk of haemorrhage or arterial thrombosis in patients starting treatment with DOA (Dabigatran and Rivaroxaban) versus AVK in the first 90 days of treatment, in the French context of increasing use of these drugs ” explains the ANSM in a press release.
The risks of switching from AVK treatment to AOD
This study was conducted by the ANSM on 24,820 patients followed for four months. The findings of this research are also encouraging. “They do not show an increased risk of a major bleeding event in people who switch from VKA treatment to DOAC compared to people who remain on VKA, regardless of DOAC. In addition, the study does not show either, between the different groups of patients, an increase at four months of the risk of ischemic stroke or of systemic embolism or myocardial infarction ”explains the ANSM.
As these studies were carried out over the short term, further research will be carried out to establish the long-term risks of these drugs.
