Short-Term Cessation of Dabigatran Causes a Paradoxical Prothrombotic State

Abstract

Objective: It is unclear if stopping treatment with dabigatran, a new oral anticoagulant (NOAC), induces a paradoxical rebound prothrombotic state. We investigated if short-term (1?3 days) dabigatran cessation is associated with a higher thrombus volume than expected from a simple reversal of the anticoagulant effect. Methods: Ten-week-old C57Bl/6 mice (n = 338) received one of the following oral treatments: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), dabigatran for 7 days with or without 1 to 4 day cessation, and aspirin in either a single dose or daily for 7 days. Some of the animals that ceased dabigatran for 1 to 3 days received single-dose aspirin. Thereafter, we induced FeCl