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Atrial FibrillationOctober 2019Summary reviewed May 2026

A New Blood Thinner Cut Bleeding Risk 17% in Heart Patients With Irregular Heartbeat

ENTRUST-AF PCI tested an edoxaban-based blood thinner regimen against the older warfarin-style regimen in 1,506 people with atrial fibrillation who had heart artery stenting. Edoxaban caused less bleeding without raising clot risk.

What the trial was testing

The ENTRUST-AF PCI enrolled 1,506 patients with atrial fibrillation. The study was sponsored by Daiichi Sankyo Europe and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.

It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.

What the results showed

17% lower risk of major or relevant bleeding on the edoxaban regimen.

The Lancet · 2019 · NCT02866175

These findings — that of major or relevant non-major bleeding on edoxaban vs. warfarin-based regimen — were published in the The Lancet and represent the headline result of the study.

Researchers tracked outcomes across 1,506 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.

What this means for patients

For patients with atrial fibrillation, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.

What you can do now

Edoxaban (Savaysa) is FDA-approved for atrial fibrillation and available now. After heart stenting, current guidelines support a direct oral anticoagulant like edoxaban, apixaban, or rivaroxaban combined with one antiplatelet pill instead of the older triple-therapy approach. Ask your cardiologist what regimen fits your case.

Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.