Treatment of arterial thromboembolic disease.

Prevention of thrombus formation and embolization remains a therapeutic challenge. Recent advances in the treatment of arterial thromboembolic disease include prevention of thromboembolism in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation with warfarin or aspirin, and combined therapy with low-dose aspirin, and anticoagulants for prosthetic heart valves and coronary artery disease. The potential of direct thrombin inhibition for treatment of acute coronary syndromes is also discussed.