Increased Thromboembolic Events With Dabigatran Compared With Vitamin K Antagonism in Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Left ventricular assist device-supported patients are usually anticoagulated with a combination of aspirin and vitamin K antagonists. Long-term vitamin K antagonist therapy can be complicated by unstable international normalized ratio values and patient-related compliance problems. Therefore, direct thrombin inhibitors may represent an alternative to vitamin K antagonists.

Methods and results

Thirty HeartWare ventricular assist device patients with stable renal function were planned for this prospective, randomized, open-label, single-center study. Patients were randomized to receive either phenprocoumon or dabigatran in addition to aspirin for long-term anticoagulation. Treatment duration was scheduled for 1 year and stopped after observation of a primary end poi

SUBMITTER: Andreas M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5434960 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature