Laboratory assessment of the anticoagulant activity of dabigatran.

Background: Our aim was to identify laboratory assays in order to assess the anticoagulant effects of dabigatran etexilate (DE).

Methods: Twenty patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation treated on DE (110 mg per os twice daily) and 20 on acenocoumarol were studied. Conventional coagulation tests, endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), thromboelastometry (ROTEM), epinephrine-induced light transmission aggregometry (LTA), and Hemoclot Thrombin Inhibitors (HTI) were performed in all patients.