Table 2. The new oral anticoagulants (NOAC) (11).

	Dabigatran	Rivaroxaban	Apixaban
Indications (dosages)	Thrombosis prophylaxis(110mg qd perioperatively, 220mg qd from postoperative day 1) Secondary prophylaxis in patients with atrial fibrillation (150mg bid; 110 mg bid for patients over age 80 or with renal impairment, and for patients simultaneously taking amiodarone or verapamil)	Thrombosis prophylaxis(10mg qd) Secondary prophylaxis in patients with atrial fibrillation (20mg qd; 15mg qd for patients with creatinine clearance between 30 and 50 mL/min) Treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (15 mg bid for 3 weeks followed by 20 mg qd for several months, or 15mg qd for patients with creatinine clearance between 30 and 50 mL/min; for patients with creatinine clearance between 15 and 29 mL/min, optional dose reduction to 15 mg qd is recommended with special consideration of hemorrhagic risk)	Thrombosis prophylaxis(2.5 mg bid) Secondary prophylaxis in patients with atrial fibrillation (5mg bid for therapeutic anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation; reduce to 2.5 mg bid in patients with serum creatinine concentration >1.5gm/dL (133 μ mol), over age 80, or weighing less than 60 kg)
Mechanism of action	Factor IIa (thrombin) inhibitor	Factor Xa inhibitor	Factor Xa inhibitor
Half-life (hours)	12–17	9–13	9–14
Elimination	80% renal	66% renal	25% renal
Main contraindications	GFR <30 ml/min	GFR <15ml/min, severe hepatic dysfunction	GFR <15ml/min, severe hepatic dysfunction

GFR, glomerular filtration rate