Bivalirudin in peripheral vascular interventions: a single center experience.
Unfractionated heparin is a widely utilized anticoagulant during peripheral angioplasty procedures (PTA). In contrast to heparin, bivalirudin is a direct thrombin inhibitor with predictable anticoagulation, does not activate platelets, and inhibits both soluble and bound thrombin. The experience with bivalirudin during PTA remains limited. In this single-center prospective study, 48 consecutive patients (60.4% males, mean age 70.0   12.1) received bivalirudin as the primary anticoagulant during PTA (0.75 mg/kg bolus, 1.75 mg/kg/h during the procedure). Thirty-four (70.8%) had claudication and 6 (12.5%) had ulceration. Thrombus was angiographically seen in 3 (6.3%) patients. In-hospital serious procedural complications were limited to 2 (4.2%) (exact 95% confidence interval: (0.5%,14.3%]) patients with major bleeding; none (0.0%) of the other following endpoints occurred: death, limb loss, emergent need for revascularization of the same vessel, embolic strokes, and vascular complications (exact 95% confidence intervals: [0.0%,6.1%]). This compared favorably to previously reported data using unfractionated heparin and the same serious procedural complications endpoints from our group at the same institution (9.2%). We conclude that the use of bivalirudin during PTA appears feasible and safe. Large prospective registries are needed to confirm these findings.
Shammas
Nicolas W
NW
Genesis Heart Institute, Cardiovascular Medicine, P.C., Davenport, Iowa, USA. shammas@mchsi.com
Lemke
Jon H
JH
Dippel
Eric J
EJ
McKinney
Dawn E
DE
Takes
Vickie S
VS
Youngblut
Monica
M
Harris
Melodee
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods*; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006629:Hirudins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000991:Antithrombins; D006629:Hirudins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C074619:bivalirudin