The value and limitations of new oral anticoagulant plasma level assessments

The class of new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has been developed to provide reliable oral anticoagulation without the need for therapeutic drug monitoring. Based on phase I and II trials and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling, fixed drug doses have been selected for large phase III clinical trials for each currently available NOAC. In these trials, the use of the fixed dose without plasma level assessments was shown to be at least as effective and at least as safe as vitamin K antagonists with continuous therapeutic drug monitoring. Real world evidence reaffirms that the use of a fixed NOAC dose without plasma level assessment is safe and effective in a large variety of patients. Nevertheless, measurement of NOAC plasma levels can add information that may be useful in some clinical scenarios. This review discusses the possible use cases, the limitations, and the practical implementation of measuring NOAC plasma concentrations.