Dabigatran etexilate for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation: Resolving uncertainties in routine practice

Menno V. Huisman; Gregory Y. H. Lip; Hans-Christoph Diener; Martina Brueckmann; Joanne van Ryn; Andreas Clemens

doi:10.1160/TH11-10-0718

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Inhaltsverzeichnis

Thromb Haemost 2012; 107(05): 838-847
DOI: 10.1160/TH11-10-0718

Review Article

Schattauer GmbH

Dabigatran etexilate for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation: Resolving uncertainties in routine practice

Authors

Menno V. Huisman

¹Departments of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
Gregory Y. H. Lip

²University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK
Hans-Christoph Diener

³Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
Martina Brueckmann

⁴Global Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH & Co. KG, Ingelheim, Germany
Joanne van Ryn

⁵Department of CardioMetabolic Disease Research, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach an der Riss, Germany
Andreas Clemens

⁴Global Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH & Co. KG, Ingelheim, Germany

Abstract

Summary

Dabigatran etexilate is a new oral anticoagulant recently approved in Europe for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in adult patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and at least one risk factor for stroke. With a fast onset of action and a predictable anticoagulant effect obviating the need for coagulation monitoring, dabigatran etexilate offers practical advantages over vitamin K antagonists in clinical practice. However, clinicians may have questions about practical aspects of dabigatran etexilate use including monitoring anticoagulant efficacy, interruption for surgical or invasive procedures and management of bleeding. This review article aims to address these concerns and provide guidance on the use of dabigatran etexilate in special situations, such as acute coronary syndromes and cardiac revascularisation. In addition, cut-off values for different coagulation assay results associated with an increased risk of bleeding are given.

Note: The editorial process for this article was fully handled by Prof. Christian Weber, Editor-in-Chief.

Keywords

Dabigatran - atrial fibrillation - oral anticoagulant - bleeding

Volltext

Referenzen

References
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