Bivalirudin vs heparin in percutaneous coronary intervention: a pooled analysis.

Objective: This study evaluates outcomes with bivalirudin vs heparin in various patient subgroups and the overall population during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

Background: Recent data suggest that bivalirudin, a reversible direct thrombin inhibitor, provides ischemic protection superior to heparin and comparable to heparin plus glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors but with significantly fewer bleeding complications. Whether this advantage persists in different subgroups has not been fully defined.

Lipid-lowering therapy in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a prevalent, chronic, and progressive atherosclerotic disease process involving the conduit vessels of the extremities. Most patients who present with objective signs of PAD are asymptomatic. These patients are at an increased risk of dying from cardiovascular events.