Cutaneous Ulcer Caused by Apixaban Treatment Is Resolved after Replacement with Dabigatran

Abstract

Nowadays, novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have shown improved safety profile and efficacy compared to vitamin K antagonists in the prevention of thromboembolic events occurring during different pathological conditions. However, there are concerns and safety issues, mostly related to adverse events following interactions with other drugs, in real-world practice. We report the case of an 83-year-old woman who developed a non-bleeding leg ulcer not caused by trauma or other evident pathological conditions after 10 days of treatment with apixaban 5 mg/q.d. She was switched from apixaban to dabigatran and the leg ulcer rapidly improved and completely cicatrized in 40 days. The resolution of the ulcer and the toleration of dabigatran therapy suggest an apixaban-specific reaction; however, the pathological mechanism of ulcer onset is currently unclear. Careful evaluation of hospital databases of Molise region (Southern Italy) hospitals identified two similar cases between 2019 and 2021. These cases underline the necessity of careful post-marketing surveillance, considering the rapidly increasing number of patients treated with NOACs and patient's risk factors such as old age, high polypharmacy rate, co-morbidities, and peculiar genetic background related to NOACs pharmacokinetic features.

Keywords: adverse drug reaction; apixaban; dabigatran; leg ulcer; novel oral anticoagulants.

Figure 1

(A) Left malleolus discoidal ulcer (diameter of about 3 cm) characterized by central fibrotic and peripheral granulation tissues after 75 days of treatment with apixaban. (B) The lesion appears cicatrized 40 days after suspension of apixaban and replacement with dabigatran.