Reactions 1479, p11-12 - 23 Nov 2013

SDabigatran etexilate

Leucocytoclastic vasculitis in an elderly patient:case report

A 70-year-old man developed leucocytoclastic vasculitisduring treatment with dabigatran etexilate.

The man, whose history included persistent atrial fibrillationand acenocoumarol treatment, experienced an ischaemicstroke of cardioembolic origin. He started receiving dabigatranetexilate 150mg twice daily [route not stated and indicationnot clearly stated]. Ten days later, he developed lower limbpurpuric lesions that were palpable. Some of the lesions hadvesicles with haematic content.

The man’s dose of dabigatran etexilate was reduced to110mg twice daily. His skin biopsy revealed leucocytoclasticvasculitis, and dabigatran etexilate was withdrawn. He startedreceiving a low molecular weight heparin and prednisone. Hislesions improved, and he resumed acenocoumarol treatment.

Author comment: "We report a leukocytoclastic vasculitiswith skin tissue necrosis case. The cause of this wasseemingly dabigatran [etexilate] because of the close temporalrelationship between exposure to the drug and the onset ofthe symptoms, and the resolution of the lesions afterdabigatran was discontinued."Valero Nunez M, et al. New treatments and old effects: Dabigatran-inducedleukocytoclastic vasculitis. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis 11 (Suppl. S2):1123 abstr. PO 275, Jul 2013 [abstract] - Spain 803096014

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Reactions 23 Nov 2013 No. 14790114-9954/13/1479-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2013 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved