title: Idarucizumab as Antidote to Intracerebral Hemorrhage under Treatment with Dabigatran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Non-vitamin K anticoagulants (NOAC) such as dabigatran have become important therapeutic options for the prevention of stroke. Until recently, there were only nonspecific agents to reverse their anticoagulant effects in a case of emergency. Idarucizumab, an antibody fragment targeting dabigatran, is the first specific antidote for a NOAC to be approved, but real-world experience is limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report two cases of patients on dabigatran with acute intracerebral hemorrhage who received idarucizumab.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both cases, idarucizumab promptly reversed the anticoagulant effect of dabigatran and there was no hematoma expansion in follow-up imaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to clinical and preclinical studies, our cases add to the experience regarding the safety and efficacy of idarucizumab. They show that idarucizumab may be an important safety option for patients on dabigatran in emergency situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Held
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eisele
authors.affiliation: Medical Affairs Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Eschenfelder
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szabo
keywords: Anticoagulant; Antidote; Dabigatran; Idarucizumab; Intracerebral hemorrhage; Stroke