• Shusuke Takeshita, Kenichi A Tanaka, Teiji Sawa, Masashi Sanda, Toshiki Mizobe, and Satoru Ogawa.
• From the Department of Anesthesiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
• Anesth. Analg. 2020 Feb 1; 130 (2): 535-541.

BackgroundIncomplete reversal with a recommended 5-g dose of idarucizumab has been reported in patients with excessively high dabigatran concentrations. A timely detection of reversal failure after idarucizumab using whole blood (WB) coagulation testing is clinically useful. The aims of this study were to determine residual dabigatran activity after idarucizumab on thrombin generation (TG) using in vitro supratherapeutic dabigatran models and to compare 4 WB point-of-care tests (activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT], prothrombin time [PT], and 2 thromboelastometry tests) with the TG results.MethodsBlood samples from 12 healthy volunteers were spiked in vitro with 0-5000 ng/mL of dabigatran. Dabigatran reversal was evaluated by adding 1000 μg/mL of idarucizumab (Praxbind) to dabigatran-spiked samples, which reflect the administration of 5-g idarucizumab to a 70-kg patient. Residual dabigatran activity was assessed using the calibrated automated TG (Thrombinoscope) in platelet-poor plasma samples. The TG results were compared with WB aPTT (DRIHEMATO APTT-S) and PT (DRIHEMATO PT-S) using CG02N analyzer, thromboelastometry (ROTEM) triggered by ellagic acid (INTEM) and tissue factor (EXTEM).ResultsAt a therapeutic concentration of dabigatran (200 ng/mL), the lag time was prolonged, and peak TG was decreased. The effects of dabigatran on TG were increased up to 1000 ng/mL, and TG was obliterated at higher supratherapeutic dabigatran levels (P < .001 versus control, respectively). TG was fully restored with idarucizumab when dabigatran was ≤2000 ng/mL, but residual anticoagulant activity was observed at higher dabigatran levels. Dabigatran prolonged WB aPTT and PT concentration dependently, and residual prolongations were observed when idarucizumab was added to 3000 or 5000 ng/mL of dabigatran (P < .001 versus control, respectively). In contrast, both INTEM and EXTEM clotting times were reversed toward reference ranges at all dabigatran concentrations when idarucizumab was added.ConclusionsOur data indicate that the recommended dose of idarucizumab may not restore TG completely with excessively elevated concentrations of dabigatran. All WB measurements with aPTT, PT, and thromboelastometry predicted supratherapeutic dabigatran concentrations, whereas those tests varied in sensitivity to residual anticoagulant activity after reversal. WB aPTT corresponded well with plasma TG changes among those measurements, but the use of thromboelastometry may overestimate the effect of idarucizumab. Caution should be exercised before extrapolating in vitro point-of-care data to the clinical monitoring of dabigatran reversal.

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