Drugs for percutaneous coronary interventions.
Many combinations of anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs have been used to treat patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Among anticoagulants, enoxaparin has some theoretical advantages over unfractionated heparin, but in clinical trials no advantage in outcome has been demonstrated in PCI. Bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, has been associated with a lower risk of bleeding than unfractionated heparin. Among antiplatelet drugs, use of clopidogrel plus aspirin has led to a reduction in cardiovascular events; all patients undergoing PCI should receive both. Addition of a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor may lower mortality rates further, particularly in high-risk patients such as diabetics.
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control
D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex