# Anticoagulants beyond coagulation: a narrative review of cardiovascular effects

## TL;DR

This review explores how anticoagulants, known for preventing blood clots, may also have broader cardiovascular effects beyond their primary function.

## Contribution

The paper provides a narrative review highlighting the pleiotropic cardiovascular effects of anticoagulants beyond coagulation.

## Key findings

- Some anticoagulants influence vascular pathology and cardiac function.
- Different anticoagulant classes show distinct effects beyond their anticoagulant role.
- Understanding these effects could improve therapeutic strategies and patient outcomes.

## Abstract

Anticoagulants are widely used to prevent and treat thrombotic disorders, and continuous advances have refined their efficacy and safety. Beyond their established anticoagulant function, growing evidence indicates that some agents exert additional cardiovascular effects through pleiotropic mechanisms. In this narrative review, we examine both the intended and potential unintended effects of anticoagulants, with particular attention to their actions beyond coagulation. We discuss their influence on vascular pathology and cardiac function, highlighting distinctions between different anticoagulant classes. A deeper understanding of these pleiotropic effects may help guide future research, improve long-term outcomes, and support more targeted therapeutic strategies for patients most likely to benefit.