Idarucizumab for Dabigatran Reversal in the Management of Patients With Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Background: Although dabigatran has a favorable risk-benefit profile compared with vitamin K antagonist therapy for venous thromboembolism and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, major bleeding events, including gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, may occur. Therefore, our aim was to provide insights into the efficacy and safety of idarucizumab for urgent dabigatran reversal in patients with major GI bleeding. Methods: Patients with uncontrollable GI bleeding requiring reversal were enrolled from June 2014 through July 2016 in the RE-VERSE AD study (Reversal of Dabigatran Anticoagulant Effect With Idarucizumab), a prospective, multicenter, open-label study of idarucizumab, and were followed up for 90 days for primary and secondary outcomes. Patients were to receive a 5-g dose of intravenous idarucizumab, administered as 2 bolus infusions of 2.5 g no more than 15 minutes apart. The primary end point was the maximum reversal of dabigatran anticoagulation within 4 hours after administration of idarucizumab as measu...