Dabigatran etexilate use in elderly patients resulted in severe bleeding events in two clinical cases, including one fatality, highlighting the risk of overdosage.
Case Report (n=2)
Does dabigatran etexilate increase the risk of bleeding events in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation?
Dabigatran use in elderly patients carries a significant risk of major bleeding and overdosage due to age-related factors such as renal impairment and low body weight.
Recent approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of dabigatran etexilate, an oral direct thrombin inhibitor, for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation will likely extend its administration in elderly patients. The risk of major overdosage of dabigatran etexilate in this population is, however, much increased owing to frequent renal function impairment, low body weight, drug interactions that cannot be detected with a routine coagulation test, and no antagonist available. We report herein 2 clinical cases, including 1 fatal case, illustrating our concern regarding the risk of bleeding events in elderly patients.
Matthieu Legrand (Mon,) conducted a case report in Atrial fibrillation (n=2). Dabigatran etexilate was evaluated on Bleeding events. Dabigatran etexilate use in elderly patients resulted in severe bleeding events in two clinical cases, including one fatality, highlighting the risk of overdosage.