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- Ezekowitz, Michael D., et al.
(author)
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Dabigatran with or without concomitant aspirin compared with warfarin alone in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (PETRO Study)
- 2007
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In: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 100:9, s. 1419-1426
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This is the first evaluation of dabigatran, an oral direct thrombin inhibitor, in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients (n = 502) were randomized to receive blinded doses of 50-, 150-, or 300-mg dabigatran twice daily alone or combined with 81- or 325-mg aspirin or open-label warfarin administered to achieve an international normalized ratio of 2 to 3 for 12 weeks. Dabigatran plasma concentrations, activated partial thromboplastin time, D-dimer, urinary 11-dehydrothromboxane B(2) (DTB2), and liver function were measured at baseline and at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Clinical end points were assessed according to the treatment received at the time of the event. Overall, 92% of patients completed the study. Major hemorrhages were limited to the group treated with 300-mg dabigatran plus aspirin (4 of 64), and the incidence was significant versus 300-mg dabigatran alone (0 of 105, p <0.02). Total bleeding events were more frequent in the 300-mg (39 of 169, 23%) and 150-mg (30 of 169, 18%) dabigatran groups compared with the 50-mg groups (7 of 107, 7%; p = 0.0002 and p = 0.01, respectively). Thromboembolic events were limited to the 50-mg dabigatran dose groups (2 of 107, 2%). The mean trough d-dimer measurements were suppressed for the 2 highest doses of dabigatran and warfarin (international normalized ratio of 2 to 3). Aminotransferase levels >3 times the upper limit of normal were observed in 0.9% of the dabigatran recipients and in none of the warfarin recipients. Two dabigatran recipients had aminotransferase levels >5 times the upper limit of normal as a result of gallstones, which resolved. Trough activated partial thromboplastin time values were 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8 times the baseline level for the 50-, 150-, and 300-mg dabigatran groups, respectively. DTB2 concentrations after 12 weeks of 50-, 150-, and 300-mg dabigatran treatment were increased by 31%, 17%, and 23%, respectively, versus baseline (p = 0.02, p = 0.03, and p = 0.0004). In conclusion, major bleeding events were limited to patients treated with dabigatran 300 mg plus aspirin and thromboembolic episodes were limited to the 50-mg dabigatran groups. The 2 highest doses of dabigatran suppress D-dimer concentrations. Serious liver toxicity was not seen. The significance of the increase of DTB2 concentrations in dabigatran-treated patients needs resolution.
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2. |
- Connolly, Stuart J., et al.
(author)
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Dabigatran versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation
- 2009
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In: New England Journal of Medicine. - 0028-4793 .- 1533-4406. ; 361:12, s. 1139-1151
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Warfarin reduces the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation but increases the risk of hemorrhage and is difficult to use. Dabigatran is a new oral direct thrombin inhibitor. METHODS: In this noninferiority trial, we randomly assigned 18,113 patients who had atrial fibrillation and a risk of stroke to receive, in a blinded fashion, fixed doses of dabigatran--110 mg or 150 mg twice daily--or, in an unblinded fashion, adjusted-dose warfarin. The median duration of the follow-up period was 2.0 years. The primary outcome was stroke or systemic embolism. RESULTS: Rates of the primary outcome were 1.69% per year in the warfarin group, as compared with 1.53% per year in the group that received 110 mg of dabigatran (relative risk with dabigatran, 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74 to 1.11; P<0.001 for noninferiority) and 1.11% per year in the group that received 150 mg of dabigatran (relative risk, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.82; P<0.001 for superiority). The rate of major bleeding was 3.36% per year in the warfarin group, as compared with 2.71% per year in the group receiving 110 mg of dabigatran (P=0.003) and 3.11% per year in the group receiving 150 mg of dabigatran (P=0.31). The rate of hemorrhagic stroke was 0.38% per year in the warfarin group, as compared with 0.12% per year with 110 mg of dabigatran (P<0.001) and 0.10% per year with 150 mg of dabigatran (P<0.001). The mortality rate was 4.13% per year in the warfarin group, as compared with 3.75% per year with 110 mg of dabigatran (P=0.13) and 3.64% per year with 150 mg of dabigatran (P=0.051). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with atrial fibrillation, dabigatran given at a dose of 110 mg was associated with rates of stroke and systemic embolism that were similar to those associated with warfarin, as well as lower rates of major hemorrhage. Dabigatran administered at a dose of 150 mg, as compared with warfarin, was associated with lower rates of stroke and systemic embolism but similar rates of major hemorrhage. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00262600.)
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3. |
- Ezekowitz, Michael D., et al.
(author)
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Rationale and design of RE-LY : randomized evaluation of long-term anticoagulant therapy, warfarin, compared with dabigatran
- 2009
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In: American Heart Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-8703 .- 1097-6744. ; 157:5, s. 805-810
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are effective for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) but are difficult to use. Dabigatran etexilate is a prodrug that is rapidly converted to the active direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran. It is administered in a fixed dose without laboratory monitoring and is being compared with warfarin (international normalized ratio 2-3) in the RE-LY trial. Two doses of dabigatran (110 and 150 mg BID) are being evaluated. RE-LY is a phase 3, prospective, randomized, open-label multinational (44 countries) trial of patients with nonvalvular AF and at least 1 risk factor for stroke. Recruitment concluded with a total of 18,113 patients. Patients who were VKA-naive and experienced are included in balanced proportions. The primary outcome is stroke (including hemorrhagic) or systemic embolism. Safety outcomes are bleeding, liver function abnormalities, and other adverse events. Adjudication of end points is blinded to drug assignment. The trial is expected to accrue a minimum of 450 events with a minimum 1-year of follow-up. RE-LY is the largest AF stroke prevention trial yet undertaken. It is unique because it includes equal numbers of VKA-experienced and naive patients and evaluates 2 different dosages of dabigatran, which may allow tailoring of dosing to individual patient needs. The worldwide site distribution and broad range of stroke risk further increase the general applicability of the trial. Results are expected in 2009.
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