Background: Thrombin plays a major role in hemostasis. Thrombin has an impact on platelet activation and aggregation. Both low and high on-treatment platelet reactivity are associated with adverse clinical events. The impact of the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran etexilate on platelet function is unknown.
Methods: The „Dabi-ADP-I“ study enrolled patients with atrial fibrillation and in
indication for oral anticoagulation at Deutschen Herzzentrum Munich. Concomitant therapy with P2Y12 receptor inhibitors was a key exclusion criterion. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either dabigatran (n=35) or phenprocoumon (n=35) for a two week period. The primary endpoint was ADP-induced platelet aggregation (in AU x min). The secondary endpoints were ADPtest HS, TRAP- and COL-induced platelet aggregation.
Results: There was no significant difference regarding the primary endpoint between both groups, dabigatran 846 [650 – 983] AU x min and phenprocoumon 839 [666 –
1039] AU x min, p=0,90 or regarding the secondary entpoints, ADPtest HS-, TRAP and COL-induced platelet aggregation. There was no death, myocardial infarction, TIMI Major or minor bleeding during the study period.
Conclusion: Dabigatran as compared to phenprocoumon has no impact on ex vivo measurement of ADP-induced platelet reactivitiy in patients with atrial fibrillation.
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