title: New therapeutic option for thromboembolism--dabigatran etexilate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thrombin plays a key role in blood coagulation and haemostasis; thus its inhibition has been identified as a reasonable target to block the coagulation cascade. Direct thrombin inhibitors are potential prophylactic agents for venous thromboembolism and arterial thrombosis, which often accompany operative procedures and cardiac disease, especially orthopedic surgery and atrial fibrillation, respectively. New orally available anticoagulant agents with a wide therapeutic window are keenly anticipated because warfarin and heparins have some disadvantages, and recent progress in pharmaceutical techniques has led to the development of orally administered direct thrombin inhibitors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this review, we discuss the usefulness of dabigatran etexilate as a new therapeutic option for preventing thromboembolism, including chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics, from the results of recent clinical studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We systematically focused on relevant published studies, as data from recent clinical studies were difficult to obtain owing to their ongoing status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dabigatran etexilate is a promising new oral anticoagulant that offers greatly expanded therapeutic options for both patients and physicians.
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, School of Dentistry, Department of Internal Medicine, 1757 Kanazawa Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ieko
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakabayashi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069604:Dabigatran; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011725:Pyridines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D000069604:Dabigatran