What does DOAC stand for in anticoagulation therapy?

• A. Direct Oral Anticoagulants
• B. Direct Oral Antiplatelets
• C. Direct Oncologic Anticoagulants
• D. Direct Oxygen Anticoagulants

Answer: (A)

The question tests your knowledge of what DOAC stands for and how these drugs work. DOAC means Direct Oral Anticoagulants. They are a class of anticoagulants taken by mouth that act directly on specific coagulation factors, rather than needing conversion or indirect effects. This direct action is why they’re labeled “direct” and “anticoagulants.” Examples include dabigatran, which inhibits thrombin (factor IIa), and rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, which inhibit factor Xa. This sets them apart from vitamin K antagonists like warfarin and from antiplatelet drugs (which act on platelets rather than the coagulation cascade). Their direct targets, oral route, and predictable effects explain the name.