Progress of anticoagulants in treatment of acute pulmonary embolism

Anticoagulation is the key to the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Once the APE is diagnosed, anticoagulant therapy should begin immediately unless there is obvious contraindication. Traditional treatment includes initial parenteral anticoagulants (heparin or low-molecular weight heparin) along with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Although traditional treatment can effectively reduce the recurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE), long-term use of vitamin K antagonists has some limitations. PE patients treated with a long-term anticoagulation therapy need some type of oral anticoagulants without laboratory monitoring and dose adjustment. This needs calls for some new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for long-term anticoagulation therapy.