Bivalirudin During PCI in Patients with Acute MI

Bivalirudin alone has been shown to be as effective as and safer than heparin plus a glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitor for suppressing ischemia in patients with unstable angina and non–ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (JW Cardiol Nov 22 2006). To assess bivalirudin’s efficacy and safety in patients with STEMI who undergo PCI, researchers conducted a randomized, open-label, multicenter, international trial funded by the maker of bivalirudin. Some 3600 patients who presented within 12 hours of symptom onset and who had ST-segment elevation ≥1 mm in two contiguous leads, new left bundle branch block, or true posterior MI received either bivalirudin or unfractionated hep…