Dabigatran-induced chronic progressive immune hemolytic anemia: A case report

Abstract

Dabigatran is an orally active direct thrombin inhibitor, initially approved by FDA for the prophylaxis of stroke and systemic embolism in the setting of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Major bleeding is its most common adverse event which is of great concern. However, other types of adverse events such as esophagitis, esophageal ulcer, exanthem and pustular eruptions were reported increasingly in recent years. We present a case of immune hemolytic anemia (IHA) due to dabigatran use in a 72-year-old male with NVAF. This new and rare reported type of adverse event associated with dabigatran suggests that dabigatran may be a new cause of drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHI).