The incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation are quickly increasing, 
mainly due to the ageing of the population. Atrial fibrillation is, to date, a 
problem of public health. Atrial fibrillation is associated to a five-fold risk 
of stroke, which may be identified by score risks, such as CHADS(2) score. The 
classical antithrombotic treatment of atrial fibrillation is based on vitamin K 
antagonists. Trials made in the 90's have clearly shown that vitamin K 
antagonists were able to decrease stroke risk by about 60%. New oral 
anticoagulants are now available on the market to treat patients with atrial 
fibrillation. These drugs are dabigatran which has demonstrated an interest in 
the RE-LY trial. Two doses may be prescribed, 110 mg bid and 150 mg bid. Anti Xa 
have also demonstrated an interest : rivaroxaban in the ROCKET AF trial and 
apixaban in the AVERROES (versus aspirin) and ARISTOTLE trials. In the future 
these drugs will have a major place in the armamentarium used to treat patients 
with atrial fibrillation. In all these trials a decrease in intra cranial 
haemorrhages has been demonstrated. In the everyday practice it will be 
necessary to be very cautious in patients with impaired renal function, as all 
these drugs are eliminated by kidneys.