Summary
Patients with atrial fibrillation requiring maintenance haemodialysis are at increased
risk of ischaemic stroke and bleeds. Currently, vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin
are predominantly used in these patients as limited data are available on the use
of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants, including dabigatran etexilate (dabigatran).
Dabigatran is approximately 85 % renally eliminated, thus, its half-life is prolonged
in renal impairment. This study simulated the dose-exposure relationship of dabigatran
in patients undergoing haemodialysis. Dabigatran exposure was modelled at once- and
twice-daily doses of 75 mg, 110 mg and 150 mg and at variations in non-renal clearance
and dialysis settings. Resultant dose exposure (area under the curve [AUC]) was compared
with values simulated from typical patients in the RE-LY® trial (based on a previously characterised pharmacometric model). In this simulation,
all twice-daily dosages resulted in exposures above those simulated from typical RE-LY
patients (1.5- to 3.3-fold increase in AUC) and thus may not be optimal for use in
haemodialysis patients. However, dabigatran doses of 75 mg or 110 mg once daily produced
exposures comparable to those simulated in typical RE-LY patients (-13.3 and +4.4
%, respectively). Of patient and dialysis variables, non-renal clearance had the highest
impact on exposure (≤30.8 % change). These data could potentially inform dose selection
in patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis and the findings warrant investigation
in future clinical trials.
Keywords
Dabigatran - end-stage renal disease - maintenance haemodialysis - atrial fibrillation
- pharmacokinetics