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.