Emerging clinical setting of direct oral anticoagulants: atherothrombotic events prevention.

: Despite substantial progress in the treatment of atherosclerotic disease a non-negligible rate of acute atherothrombotic events persists. Evidence suggesting a safer profile of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) compared with vitamin K antagonists and the involvement of coagulation in the atherosclerotic process has led to exploration of the role of DOACs in the prevention of atherothrombotic events. In this review, we discuss the findings of recent studies on DOACs, particularly rivaroxaban, in atherothrombotic disease which represents a new clinical setting for oral anticoagulants.