[Dabigatran-induced oesophagitis].

Dabigatran is a direct oral anticoagulant which is used as an alternative to the traditional vitamin K antagonists. Dabigatran can have various gastro-intestinal side effects. In this article we describe the case of a patient with dabigatran-induced oesophagitis and we present an overview of current literature.An 87-year-old woman presented at the accident and emergency department with a 3-week history of nausea and melena. The patient had atrial fibrillation and hypertension with cardiac dilation. Phenprocoumon had been replaced with dabigatran 3 weeks previously. Gastroscopy showed elongated ulceration and exfoliation in the distal section of the oesophagus, consistent with dabigatran-induced oesophagitis. The patient was treated with an intravenous proton-pump inhibitor and the symptoms disappeared. The oesophageal mucosa was completely healed 8 weeks later.It is important to recognize the symptoms and endoscopic picture of dabigatran-induced oesophagitis as dabigatran is increasingly being prescribed. In order to prevent dabigatran-induced oesophagitis it is essential to give the patient thorough instructions about how to take this medication.