Treatment with Bivalirudin (Hirulog) as Compared with Heparin during Coronary Angioplasty for Unstable or Postinfarction Angina

Abstract

Heparin is often administered during and after coronary angioplasty to prevent closure of the dilated vessel. However, ischemic or hemorrhagic complications occur in 5 to 10 percent of treated patients. We studied whether these complications could be prevented when the direct thrombin inhibitor bivalirudin (Hirulog) was used in place of heparin.