Bivalirudin in Patients Undergoing PCI: State of Art and Future Perspectives.
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) represents the most common cause of death worldwide. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the management of choice in patients with ACS and occurrence of intra-procedural thrombotic complications are an independent predictor of mortality and other major adverse cardiovascular events in patients undergoing PCI. According to current guideline, anticoagulation therapy is indicated during PCI in order to reduce the risk of thrombotic complications such as stent thrombosis. Among currently available anticoagulant drugs, bivalirudin demonstrates a lower incidence of bleeding risk, despite it is associated with an increased risk of stent thrombosis. The aim of this paper is to discuss the pharmacology of bivalirudin and the clinical evidences of its use in patients undergoing PCI for ACS.
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
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G
Galasso
Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
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M
Mirra
Division of Cardiology, AOU Maggiore della Carità-Eastern Piedmont University, Novara, Italy.
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G
De Luca
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
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F
Piscione
anticoagulant; bivalirudin; bleeding; myocardial infarction; percutaneous coronary intervention