American Society of Hirudotherapy

[Direct oral thrombin inhibitor, "dabigatran"].

Review published in Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine (2013)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Narrative reviewDrug DevelopmentYasaka · Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine, 2013

Abstract

Dabigatran is an oral, direct, and competitive inhibitor of thrombin, which is administered to patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation for prevention of stroke at a dose of 110 mg twice daily or 150 mg twice daily. Anticoagulation by dabigatran is "hybrid anticoagulation", consisting of action of both dabigatran and physiological coagulation inhibitors because warfarin inhibits production of protein C and protein S but dabigatran does not. Management of dabigatran is easier than that of warfarin because food restriction is unnecessary, drug interaction is small, and absorption time is short and serum concentration corresponds to the anticoagulatory effect in dabigatran treatment. The RE-LY trial confirmed effectiveness and safety of both doses of dabigatran for prevention of stroke and both doses of dabigatran had much lower risks of intracranial bleeding compared with warfarin. Compliance to guidance of dabigatran treatment is essential for avoidance of severe hemorrhagic complications.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Publication typeEnglish AbstractJournal ArticleReview
Indexed MeSH termsAdministration, OralAntithrombinsAtrial FibrillationBenzimidazolesDabigatranHemorrhageHumansWarfarinbeta-Alanine

Summary

Dabigatran is an oral, direct, and competitive inhibitor of thrombin, which is administered to patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation for prevention of stroke at a dose of 110 mg twice daily or 150 mg twice daily. Anticoagulation by dabigatran is "hybrid anticoagulation", consisting of...

Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy

This review describes dabigatran, an oral, direct, and competitive thrombin inhibitor used for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation at doses of 110 or 150 mg twice daily. The RE-LY trial confirmed effectiveness and safety of both doses, with lower intracranial bleeding risk compared with warfarin. Dabigatran's management is described as easier than warfarin due to fewer food restrictions, smaller drug interactions, and shorter absorption time. For ASH's domain, the article shares the general pharmacological theme of direct thrombin inhibition, but the abstract does not mention leeches, hirudotherapy, hirudin, or any leech-derived compound. Any connection is therefore limited to the broader mechanistic class of direct thrombin inhibitors, not to leech-based therapy or the leech secretome.

Citation

[Direct oral thrombin inhibitor, "dabigatran"].

Yasaka · Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine, 2013

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