Enoxaparin Better Than Unfractionated Heparin During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Data from a meta-analysis may warrant a change in current guidelines.

Numerous comparisons of enoxaparin and unfractionated heparin (UFH) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have been conducted (e.g., JW Cardiol Sep 28 2011); however, none has had sufficient power to detect potential differences in mortality and safety. Therefore, most guidelines continue to confer on UFH a class I recommendation for use during PCI, despite limited evidence (level C) of its effectiveness in this setting.

Now, investigators have pooled data from 23 studies comparing enoxaparin with UFH during PCI. Of 30,966 patients included, 10,243 (33.1%) underwent primary PCI for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (MI), 8750 (28.2%) underwent secondary PCI after fibrinolysis, and 11,973 (38.7%) underwent scheduled PCI for…

Reviewing Author

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)