A comparison of dabig- atran etexilate with warfarin in patients with mechanical heart valves: the Randomized, phase II study to Evaluate the sAfety and pharmacokinetics of oraL dabIGatran etexilate in patients after heart valve replacemeNt (RE- ALIGN). Am Heart J. 2012;163:931 7.e1. 5. Eikelboom JW, Connolly SJ, Brueckmann M, et al. Dabigatran ver- sus warfarin in patients with mechanical heart valves. N Engl J Med. 2013;369:1206 14. 6. Torella M, Torella D, Chiodini P, et al. LOWERing the INtensity of oral anticoaGulant Therapy in patients with bileaflet mechanical aortic valve replacement: results from the LOWERING-IT Trial. Am Heart J. 2010;160:171 8. 7. Hering D, Piper C, Bergemann R, et al. Thromboembolic and bleeding complications following St. Jude Medical valve replacement: results of the German Experience With Low-Intensity Anticoagulation Study. Chest. 2005;127:53 9. 8. Acar J, Iung B, Boissel JP, et al. AREVA: multicenter randomized compari- son of low-dose versus standard-dose anticoagulation in patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valves. Circulation. 1996;94:2107 12. 9. Whitlock RP, Sun JC, Fremes SE, et al. Antithrombotic and thrombolytic therapy for valvular disease: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of CLINICAL STATEMENTS AND GUIDELINES Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. Chest. 2012;141:e576S 600S. 10. Horstkotte D, Scharf RE, Schultheiss HP. Intracardiac thrombosis: patient- related and device-related factors. J Heart Valve Dis. 1995;4:114 20. 11. Pruefer D, Dahm M, Dohmen G, et al. Intensity of oral anticoagulation af- ter implantation of St. Jude Medical mitral or multiple valve replacement: lessons learned from GELIA (GELIA 5). Eur Heart J Suppl. 2001;3:Q39 43. 12. Rod s-Cabau J, Masson J-B, Welsh RC, et al. 