Preface

Nowadays, thrombotic diseases are some of the leading causes of death in the world. Anticoagulation is a mainstay approach for the prophylaxis and treatment of thrombotic diseases. The clinical requirement of drugs with greater efficacy and lower risk of bleeding complications has prompted investigators to conduct experimental and clinical research on the development and validation of new anticoagulants. To date, there are three major types of commonly used anticoagulants. The first type is vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), including warfarin and acenocoumarol; the second type is heparins, including unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin, such as dalteparin and enoxaparin, and fondaparinux sodium; and the third type is direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), including apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban. Knowledge regarding the use of anticoagulants has rapidly expanded in recent years. Accordingly, it is important to collect available evidence and summarize the current perspectives on anticoagulation. This book, *Anticoagulation - Current Perspectives*, includes six chapters regarding the mechanisms of anticoagulation and its clinical value in different disease conditions. The first two chapters summarize the general information regarding anticoagulation and hypercoagulability/thrombophilia, and the remaining four chapters discuss the use of anticoagulation in different populations, including adult hospitalized surgical and medical patients, COVID-19 patients, patients with hepatic thrombotic disorders, and frail elderly patients with atrial fibrillation. I hope that this book will be helpful for physicians to more deeply understand when and how patients should undergo anticoagulation and to further improve patient outcomes.

> **Dr. Xingshun Qi** Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China

> **Xiaozhong Guo** Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China

Section 1 General Summary
