The Status of Warfarin in the Era of Novel Oral Anticoagulants

Anticoagulation therapy is an important measure for the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic diseases, especially pulmonary embolism. Warfarin, as a classic anticoagulant drug, has been applied to thromboembolic diseases since the 1950s. Compared with warfarin, novel oral anticoagulants(NOACs) have the advantages of stable pharmacokinetics, fixed-dose usage, no need for frequent monitoring of coagulation function, less interaction with drugs and foods, and good drug safety. The emergence of NOACs has given clinicians more choice of drugs, and it also challenges warfarin's position in the field of anticoagulation. However, there is no medicine to replace warfarin yet in many clinical scenarios. Warfarin still has the value of its existence.