BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Non-vitamin K anticoagulants (NOAC) such as dabigatran 
have become important therapeutic options for the prevention of stroke. Until 
recently, there were only nonspecific agents to reverse their anticoagulant 
effects in a case of emergency. Idarucizumab, an antibody fragment targeting 
dabigatran, is the first specific antidote for a NOAC to be approved, but 
real-world experience is limited.
METHODS: We report two cases of patients on dabigatran with acute intracerebral 
hemorrhage who received idarucizumab.
RESULTS: In both cases, idarucizumab promptly reversed the anticoagulant effect 
of dabigatran and there was no hematoma expansion in follow-up imaging.
CONCLUSIONS: In addition to clinical and preclinical studies, our cases add to 
the experience regarding the safety and efficacy of idarucizumab. They show that 
idarucizumab may be an important safety option for patients on dabigatran in 
emergency situations.