title: Recovery of visual function after administration of dabigatran etexilate.
abstract: A 46-year-old Caucasian female underwent pars plana vitrectomy (ppv) for retinal detachment. After the procedure, the patient could only distinguish hand movements; the condition was tentatively diagnosed as nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Conventional treatment with systemic corticosteroids and acetylsalicylic acid was ineffective and yielded substantial steroid-related side effects. Additional administration of 2 × 110 mg dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa(®)), a novel direct thrombin inhibitor, resulted in a prompt and marked improvement of visual acuity, which indicated improved blood flow in the central vessels of the optic nerve. Dabigatran etexilate may provide a promising alternative for the treatment of postprocedural vision loss after ppv.
authors.affiliation: Herzog Carl Theodor Eye Clinic, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Carl-Ludwig
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Schönfeld
authors.affiliation: Herzog Carl Theodor Eye Clinic, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Herzog Carl Theodor Eye Clinic, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Distelmaier
authors.affiliation: Herzog Carl Theodor Eye Clinic, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.affiliation: Herzog Carl Theodor Eye Clinic, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paquet
authors.affiliation: Herzog Carl Theodor Eye Clinic, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.affiliation: Herzog Carl Theodor Eye Clinic, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meyer
keywords: Antithrombotic agents; Complications, postoperative; Dabigatran etexilate; Pars plana vitrectomy; Visual loss