Dabigatran Reversal in a Patient With End-Stage Liver Disease and Acute Kidney Injury

Dabigatran, a direct thrombin inhibitor and one of the new class of direct oral anticoagulants, is increasingly used in preference to warfarin because of its efficacy and ease of administration. However, because the drug is cleared by the kidneys, it can accumulate in plasma and increase the risk for bleeding in patients with decreased kidney function. We report a patient with end-stage liver disease who developed life-threatening hemorrhage and acute kidney injury while taking dabigatran, 150mg, twice daily.