[Comparison of three methods of antithrombotic therapy in elderly patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation].

We compared efficacy and safety of warfarin, direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran and clopidogrel in prevention of stroke in 210 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) aged 65-80 years. The use of dabigatran (110 mg twice daily) for 12 months or warfarin was associated with similar rate of ischemic stroke but caused less bleeding (2.8 vs. 16.9%, p<0.05). Treatment with clopidogrel prevented stroke no less successfully, than those with warfarin and dabigatran and turned out to be sufficiently safe. When chosing antithrombotic therapy in gerontological patients with nonvalvular AF dabigatran and clopidogrel can be considered acceptable alternative to warfarin.