Abstract
Dabigatran-etexilate belongs to a new group of oral anticoagulants which are currently being implemented in several indications in clinical practice. Dabigatran is the only available oral direct thrombin inhibitor with favourable pharmacological properties which enable uniform dosage without a need for monitoring of the anticoagulant effect.
RE-LY study which was published in 2009, demonstrated in patients with atrial fibrillation reduced risk of stroke and systemic embolism with dabigatran treatment compared to warfarin as well as a low risk of bleeding and a significant reduction in haemorrhagic stroke. Based on these convincing results dabigatran- etexilate is the first new oral anticoagulant approved for use in the indication of prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonv alvular atrial fibrillation.