In draft guidance published today for consultation, NICE has recommended rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Bayer) as an option for preventing blood clots in people who have had a heart attack as a result of a blockage or narrowing in one of the blood vessels in the heart.

Rivaroxaban is licensed for the prevention of blood clots in adults who have an acute coronary syndrome severe enough to result in the release of cardiac biomarkers into the blood that show heart muscle has been damaged.

Acute coronary syndrome covers a range of conditions from unstable angina to heart attacks (ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)). The draft guidance considers the use of rivaroxaban to prevent further blood clots in adults who have had a heart attack – either STEMI or NSTEMI. In unstable angina, damage to the heart is not severe enough to result in the release of biomarkers into the blood so this condition is not considered in the draft guidance.

For more details, go to: https://www.nice.org.uk/news/press-and-media/nice-draft-guidance-recommends-rivaroxaban-xarelto-to-prevent-blood-clots-in-people-who-have-had-a-heart-attack