Antithrombotic efficacy of bivalirudin compared to unfractionated heparin during percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndrome

Bivalirudin is associated with an increased risk of acute stent thrombosis (AST) compared to unfractionated heparin (UFH) in acute coronary syndrome patients (ACS) during short-duration percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The mechanisms involved are unknown. We aimed to investigate the antithrombotic efficacy of bivalirudin compared to UFH during PCI. In a monocenter study, we prospectively enrolled 30 patients undergoing PCI for a non-ST elevation ACS. They were randomly assigned to a single intravenous (IV) bolus of UFH (70 IU/kg) or an IV bolus of bivalirudin 0.75 mg/kg followed by a 1.75 mg/kg/h infusion during PCI. All patients received a loading dose (LD) of 180 mg of ticagrelor at the time of PCI. The VASP index and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were used to assess the course of platelet reactivity (PR) and antithrombotic activity. The two groups were similar regarding baseline, angiographic, and interventional characteristics. There was no difference between the two groups in the course of PR following ticagrelor LD. An optimal PR inhibition was obtained 4 h after the LD of ticagrelor. The level of antithrombotic activity was significantly lower in the bivalirudin group compared to the UFH group (p < 0.001) during PCI but similar at 2 and 4 h post-PCI. We observed that, in ACS undergoing PCI, the antithrombotic efficacy of an IV bolus of bivalirudin is significantly lower than that of a 70-IU/kg UFH bolus. This could contribute to the excess in thrombotic acute events observed during short-duration PCI.