New blood thinner better at preventing recurrent blood clots than aspirin
An international research team with prominent Canadian leadership has found that the blood thinner rivaroxaban is as safe as aspirin, and more effective at preventing recurrence of life-threatening blood clots in the legs and lungs, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
At least one out of 1,000 Canadians will experience one of these blood clots every year, a condition called venous thromboembolism. The clots can be deadly if they travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), and are the third most common cardiovascular cause of death after heart attack and stroke.
Read the full news release.
Main photo credit: The Ottawa Hospital
Dr. Philip Wells, one of the authors of the study, presented the research at the American College of Cardiology's 66th Annual Scientific Session on Saturday.