[Anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (nvAF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD)].

Due to the associated risk of stroke, non-valvular atrial fibrillation (nvAF) is a major indication for oral anticoagulation. Many patients suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), which increases the risk for stroke and for bleeding. Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) receive only cautious recommendations in guidelines for patients with CKD and nvVHF due to heterogeneous study results; their summaries of product characteristics contain contraindications for patients with manifest CKD. Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been investigated and are approved in CKD patients with a creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 25 or 30 ml/min, factor Xa inhibitors can be used also if CrCl is > 15 ml/min. NOACs show an advantageous benefit-risk profile compared to VKA in reducing stroke, other thromboembolic events and death on the one hand and occurrence of bleedings on the other, and are recommended by the current ESC guidelines.