Dabigatran-related intracerebral hemorrhage resulting in hematoma expansion

Claus Z Simonsen1, Thorsten Steiner2, Anna Tietze3

  • 1Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

Warfarin-related intracerebral hemorrhage carries a particularly high risk of neurologic deterioration and death because of a high rate of hematoma expansion of about 50%. Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs)--apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban--have a significantly smaller risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, two facts make this situation complicated: First, the risk of hematoma expansion is unknown for NOACs. Second, there is no specific antidote for neither of the NOACs. We present a case that suggests that hematoma expansion may occur after NOAC-related ICH.

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