Letter by Heinrich-Nols and Kreuzer Regarding Article, "Increased Thromboembolic Events With Dabigatran Compared With Vitamin K Antagonism in Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial".

We thank Andreas et al1 for publishing the results of their pilot study comparing dabigatran etexilate with phenprocoumon in patients with a left ventricular assist device.The authors selected a dabigatran dose of 110 mg twice daily (BID) for patients with normal renal function (creatinine clearance u003e80 mL/min; n=2) and 75 mg BID for patients with impaired renal function (creatinine clearance 30–80 mL/min; n=6) and observed an excess of thromboembolic events with dabigatran compared with phenprocoumon. They state that “The dose administered…was in accordance with the recommended dose for atrial fibrillation as of 2010 and based on the RE-LY study results” and also that “Dabigatran dosages…adhered to the recommended dosage …