Clinical experience with idarucizumab in patients with atrial fi brillation taking dabigatran etexilate

Abstract

Dabigatran etexilate (DE) is a direct thrombin inhibitor that has been shown to be eff ective and safe in preventing thrombotic events in a number of studies. Currently idarucizumab, which is a monoclonal antibody and a DE antagonist, is used to immediately inactivate the DE-induced eff ect.Objective. Еvaluation of the effi ciency and safety of idarucizumab in patients receiving DE.Material and methods. 6 patients (2 men, 4 women) aged 61 to 86 years (mean age 72.8 ± 10.6 years) receiving DE, who are expected to use idarucizumab in achieving the goal of sTLT or surgery.Results. In none of the patients the use of idarucizumab was accompanied by a decrease in thrombin time of less than 11 seconds which could indicate a hypercoagulable phenomenon. Before inactivation of dabigatran etexilate thrombin time was signifi cantly higher (p < 0.05) than after the administration of the drug. There were no statistically signifi cant diff erences in the concentration of D-dimer before and after the administration of idarucizumab which indicates the absence of procoagulant properties of this drug. None of the patients developed clinically signifi cant arterial and/ or venous thrombotic events such as recurrent IS, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities and pulmonary embolism, during the entire period of hospitalization.Conclusion. The use of idarucizumab is allowed for systemic thrombolytic therapy and emergency surgical treatment in patients taking DE. Idarucizumab quickly and safely neutralizes the anticoagulant eff ect of DE and doesn’t have a prothrombotic activity.