The Effectiveness of Prothrombin Complex Concentrate in Reversing the Anticoagulant Activity of the Oral Director Thrombin Inhibitor Dabigatran (Pradaxa®): A Review of Human Studies

摘要

Dabigatran is an oral direct thrombin inhibitor approved by the US FDA for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Dabigatran is rapidly replacing traditional anticoagulants, such as warfarin, despite the fact that clinicians have very little experience with dabigatran induced bleeding and no reliable therapeutic agent to reverse its effects. Prothrombin complex concentrate is effective at reversing traditional anticoagulants as it contains clotting factors, including prothrombin, the precursor to thrombin. How effective is prothrombin complex concentrate in reversing the anticoagulant activity of dabigatran?