Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
23:33

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 28, 2012

84.2K

Increased risk of myocardial infarction with dabigatran: fact or fiction?

Ada F Giglio1, Eloisa Basile, Pasquale Santangeli

  • 1aInstitute of Cardiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy bStanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA cTexas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, Texas, USA dUniversity of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.

Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine (Hagerstown, Md.)
|February 5, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Dabigatran use may be linked to increased heart events, but current evidence is inconclusive. Further research is needed to confirm this association and explore other factors like warfarin

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Cardiology
  • Thrombosis

Background:

  • Dabigatran, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is approved for stroke prophylaxis in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
  • Clinical trials have suggested a potential trend of increased acute coronary events in patients taking dabigatran.
  • This has raised concerns regarding a possible link between dabigatran and myocardial infarction, particularly in high-risk individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the current evidence regarding the association between dabigatran and myocardial infarction.
  • To discuss the need for further data to clarify this hypothetical relationship.
  • To consider alternative explanations for observed trends, such as the cardioprotective effects of warfarin.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trial data evaluating dabigatran in various settings (VTE prophylaxis, secondary VTE prevention, ACS).
  • Analysis of reported trends in acute coronary events among dabigatran recipients.
  • Consideration of existing literature on anticoagulants and cardiovascular events.

Main Results:

  • A trend toward an increase in acute coronary events was observed in some dabigatran trials.
  • Current evidence is insufficient to establish a definitive causal relationship between dabigatran and myocardial infarction.
  • The role of other factors, including the protective effect of warfarin against ACS, requires consideration.

Conclusions:

  • The potential association between dabigatran and myocardial infarction remains inconclusive.
  • More comprehensive data are necessary to elucidate this hypothetical link.
  • Warfarin's established protective effect against ACS warrants consideration in interpreting dabigatran trial results.

More Related Videos

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation28:13

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 26, 2013

34.6K
A Multicenter MRI Protocol for the Evaluation and Quantification of Deep Vein Thrombosis10:26

A Multicenter MRI Protocol for the Evaluation and Quantification of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Published on: June 2, 2015

17.1K

Related Concept Videos

Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants01:18

Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Oral anticoagulants are vital tools in preventing and treating blood clotting disorders. This diverse class of medications can be categorized as vitamin K antagonists, exemplified by warfarin, and direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), such as dabigatran, as well as factor Xa inhibitors, including rivaroxaban.
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
2.7K
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors01:24

Drug Toxicity: Risk factors

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...
229
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins01:30

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
2.6K
Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors01:20

Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors

Antiplatelet drugs emerge as frontline defenders against the insidious threat of thromboembolic diseases, where abnormal clots obstruct vital blood vessels. These drugs stand as bulwarks, inhibiting platelet aggregation and clot formation, thereby mitigating the risk of life-threatening conditions like myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and thrombotic strokes.
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
1.6K
Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations01:30

Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a primary health risk worldwide, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The condition arises from the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques within the coronary arteries, resulting in diminished blood supply to the heart muscle.The clinical manifestations of CAD vary widely, from asymptomatic stages to severe, life-threatening conditions. Understanding these manifestations is crucial for early diagnosis and effective management.Angina Pectoris: The Warning...
620
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology01:26

Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...
1.1K