Anticoagulation with bivalirudin during percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: The objective of this retrospective analysis of high-risk patients treated with bivalirudin during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI) without concomitant glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibition.

Background: Reperfusion by PCI is the treatment of choice for patients with STEMI. In patients with stable or unstable angina without ST-segment elevation undergoing PCI, bivalirudin was at least as effective as heparin plus GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in reducing ischemic events and more effective in preventing bleeding.