Reversal of dabigatran requiring hemodialysis, fresh frozen plasma, and 2 doses of idarucizumab in a patient with acute kidney injury

Abstract

Purpose A case report of dabigatran-associated coagulopathy that lasted for about 1 week after drug discontinuation despite use of several treatment measures is presented.

Summary Life-threatening hemorrhage can occur in patients receiving dabigatran, a direct-acting oral anticoagulant. Idarucizumab is a newly approved dabigatran antidote that neutralizes the drug’s anticoagulant activity. An 80-year-old Caucasian man with a medical history of hypertension, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, gout, and atrial fibrillation was hospitalized with acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by bilateral hydronephrosis secondary to distal urethral stricture. The patient had prolonged coagulation parameters and major bleeding. Initial laboratory values revealed anemia, with a hemoglobin concentration of 8.9 g/dL; a serum creatinine concentration of 3.9 mg/dL; a prothrombin time of 15 seconds; an International Normalized Ratio of 1.1; and a platelet count of 142,000 platelets/mm3. Three hemodialysis sessions and administration of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), packed red blood cells, and 2 doses of idarucizumab were required in order to achieve hemostasis 8 days after dabigatran was discontinued.

Conclusion A patient with AKI who had been taking dabigatran and developed major bleeding needed 2 doses of idarucizumab in addition to FFP and 3 sessions of hemodialysis in order for hemostasis to be restored. This case suggests that idarucizumab might not produce hemostasis in a timely manner in patients with poor renal function.