title: Bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention after acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bivalirudin is replacing heparin as the anticoagulant agent of choice for elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study aimed to assess the safety and clinical outcomes of bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin (UFH) in patients undergoing PCI for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 672 consecutive patients presenting with AMI without prior thrombolytic therapy were treated with either bivalirudin (216 patients) or UFH (456 patients). Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors were administered at the operator's discretion. The in-hospital, 30-day, and 6-month outcomes of the two groups were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were similar between the groups. In-hospital complications were similar, although there was a trend of a less major hematocrit drop in the bivalirudin group (0.9% vs. 3.1%, P=.09). All clinical outcomes were similar between the groups at 30-day and 6-month follow-ups. There was no statistical significance for acute thrombosis and subacute thrombosis between the groups, and there was no late thrombosis from either group. The event-free survival rate was similar between the groups (P=.41).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of bivalirudin in patients undergoing PCI after AMI is safe and feasible. Bivalirudin should be considered as an alternative anticoagulant agent during PCI to treat patients presenting with AMI.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Pramod K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Kuchulakanti
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torguson
authors.forename: Leonardo C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Clavijo
authors.forename: Augusto D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pichard
authors.forename: William O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Suddath
authors.forename: Lowell F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Satler
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waksman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006493:Heparin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006629:Hirudins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012107:Research Design; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006629:Hirudins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006493:Heparin; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine; C074619:bivalirudin