Use of thrombin time to transition from dabigatran to intravenous unfractionated heparin in patients with acute kidney injury.

Abstract

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Purpose: This case series explores the use of thrombin time (TT) to transition 2 patients from dabigatran to unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the setting of acute kidney injury (AKI) and coagulopathy concerning for dabigatran accumulation.

Summary: Serial TT monitoring was employed until the value began to trend below 120 seconds, indicating ongoing drug clearance, at which point UFH was initiated. Patient 1 experienced rectal bleeding following initiation of UFH, while patient 2 experienced hemoglobin drops without an apparent bleeding source. No thrombotic events occurred during either hospitalization.

Conclusion: Individualized management remains paramount to balance bleeding and thrombotic risk based on patient-specific factors. Further research is warranted to validate the safety and efficacy of a TT-guided transition strategy and optimize protocols for hospitalized patients transitioning from dabigatran to UFH.