Use of rivaroxaban in an elderly patient with intermediate-low early mortality risk due to pulmonary embolism: a case report

INTRODUCTION Pulmonary embolism remains one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality. The standard treatment for pulmonary embolism is anticoagulant therapy using low molecular weight heparin, fondaparinux and a vitamin K antagonist, but a recent clinical trial showed that rivaroxaban, an oral factor Xa inhibitor, was as effective as standard therapy for the initial and long-term treatment of pulmonary embolism and had less bleeding complications. CASE PRESENTATION The present report describes the case of an 80-year-old white man with an intermediate to low early mortality risk of pulmonary embolism. He was successfully treated with rivaroxaban (administered orally as monotherapy), demonstrating rapid benefit without any adverse events. CONCLUSION Rivaroxaban, particularly in the acute phase of pulmonary embolism, may be considered an effective and safe therapeutic choice even in elderly patients, a population less represented in clinical trials.