Idarucizumab for the Reversal of Dabigatran-induced Anticoagulation in the Treatment of Gastric Bleeding: a Case Report

Abstract BACKGROUND:The drug instruction for dabigatran recommends the does adjustment 110 mg twice-a-day for the patient with bleeding risk, and at least 1 time of renal function test per year for moderate renal impairment. However, dabigatran still can be abnormal accumulation due to the chronic insidiously progressive renal insufficiency, which requiring idarucizumab to reverse the anticoagulation on account of acute erosive gastritis with extensive gastric mucosal bleeding.CASE SUMMARY: A 76-year-old female, with a history of Atrial Fibrillation (AF), took dabigatran 110 mg twice-a-day as recommended does adjustment to reduce the risk of stroke, and admitted to the hospital for the main complaints of hematemesis and melena. The laboratory findings showed severe life-threatening blood-loss anemia with hemoglobin (Hb) 41.0g/L, and significant coagulation abnormalities with thrombin time (TT) > 180s, most likely caused by dabigatran metabolic disorder. Aggressive acid suppressive, hemostatic and blood transfusion therapy brought out a short-time bleed-controlled misconception, which situation was exactly confirmed by re-bleeding. Idarucizumab was given timely to reverse the anticoagulation effect of dabigatran. 12 hours later, TT was tested as 17.4s which belonged to the normal range. Finally, she had no active bleeding signs, with labs showing Hb 104g/L and TT 17.7s.CONCLUSION:It is recommended to monitor renal function regularly, even coagulation function and dabigatran concentration, for the elder. There is at present no general agreement on the use of Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI)–dabigatran coadministration to prevent upper gastrointestinal bleeding.