United States Food and Drug Administration officials today delayed approval of Eliquis ( apixaban ) to prevent stroke or systemic embolism in patients with a common heart arrhythmia for the second time.

Following a blood clot patients commonly take warfarin (Coumadin) to prevent a recurrence. It may be just as safe and effective for those individuals to later switch to aspirin.

Following a close vote, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel has declined to recommend r ivaroxaban ( Xarelto ) to treat acute coronary syndrome.

Patients with certain types of atrial fibrillation, a common heart arrhythmia, are at a high risk of stroke and blood clots if they temporarily stop their blood thinning medication before surgery or permanently because of side effects.

Hospitalized patients who undergo surgery aren't the only ones at risk of suffering a dangerous blood clot. Patients undergoing outpatient procedures also are at risk.

New oral blood thinner rivaroxaban ( Xarelto ) has been shown to be safer for treating a pulmonary embolism as compared to enoxaparin ( Lovenox ) injections, and was found to be just as effective.

Women who use oral contraception, take caution: Birth control pills that contain the hormone  drospirenone may cause blood clots. Government officials are still examining study data and will decided whether the pills’ benefits outweigh the risk.

An experimental drug designed to aid severely ill patients after hospitalization is not more effective than standard treatments for reducing the risk of blood clots, a study has confirmed.

Most individuals have no idea whether they are at risk for a serious blood clot. A new online tool featuring simple questions patients can answer may help identify those in need of preventative treatment.

Joint replacement surgery might seem fairly routine in today's on-demand health care system. The added risk for blood clots in the lungs following knee operations can add an extra complication.