Does idarucizumab reverse anticoagulation and prevent hematoma expansion in patients on dabigatran with acute intracerebral hemorrhage?
Idarucizumab promptly reversed dabigatran anticoagulation without hematoma expansion in two cases of acute intracerebral hemorrhage.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Non-vitamin K anticoagulants (NOAC) such as dabigatran have become important therapeutic options for the prevention of stroke. Until recently, there were only nonspecific agents to reverse their anticoagulant effects in a case of emergency. Idarucizumab, an antibody fragment targeting dabigatran, is the first specific antidote for a NOAC to be approved, but real-world experience is limited. METHODS: We report two cases of patients on dabigatran with acute intracerebral hemorrhage who received idarucizumab. RESULTS: In both cases, idarucizumab promptly reversed the anticoagulant effect of dabigatran and there was no hematoma expansion in follow-up imaging. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to clinical and preclinical studies, our cases add to the experience regarding the safety and efficacy of idarucizumab. They show that idarucizumab may be an important safety option for patients on dabigatran in emergency situations.
Held et al. (2016) studied this question.