Semin Thromb Hemost 2019; 45(08): 846-850
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1695735
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Proton Pump Inhibitors and Dabigatran Therapy: Impact on Gastric Bleeding and Dabigatran Plasma Levels

Tomáš Bolek
1   Department of Internal Medicine I, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovak Republic
,
Matej Samoš
1   Department of Internal Medicine I, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovak Republic
,
Ingrid Škorňová
2   Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, National Centre of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovak Republic
,
Peter Galajda
1   Department of Internal Medicine I, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovak Republic
,
Ján Staško
2   Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, National Centre of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovak Republic
,
Peter Kubisz
2   Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, National Centre of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovak Republic
,
Marián Mokáň
1   Department of Internal Medicine I, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovak Republic
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
19 September 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Dabigatran etexilate, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is now frequently used for long-term pharmacological prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, such long-term dabigatran therapy (DT) significantly increases the risk of upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. This increased risk of gastric bleeds might be reduced with gastroprotective agents, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). PPIs coadministrated with dabigatran reduce the risk of upper GI bleeding in patients on long-term oral DT. Nevertheless, there is heated discussion regarding interactions between PPI and dabigatran that lead to decreases in dabigatran plasma levels. This article reviews up to date data about the risk of gastric bleeding on dabigatran, the impact of PPI on the reduction of gastric bleeding, and the interaction between PPI and dabigatran leading to decreased dabigatran plasma levels.