Abstract
Dabigatran is a member of a new generation of oral anti-clotting drugs called direct thrombin inhibitors. Dabigatran provides effective, predictable and consistent anticoagulation with a low potential for drug-drug interactions and no drug-food interactions, without the need for routine coagulation monitoring or dose adjustment.
The recently reported positive outcomes of studies in patients with acute venous thromboembolic disease (RE-COVER) and in patients with atrial fibrillation who are at risk of stroke (RE-LY) have provided further evidence of dabigatran efficacy and safety. Dabigatran is currently indicated for the prevention of venous thromboembolic disease after knee replacement surgery (for 10 days) and after hip replacement surgery (28–35 days) at a recommended 220 mg once-daily dose.
Key words: dabigatran – direct thrombin inhibitor – venous thromboembolic disease.