BMI differences on anticoagulation with bivalirudin vs. heparin during primary PCI: a BRIGHT-4 subanalysis

BACKGROUND: Body mass index (BMI) is associated with ischemic and bleeding events in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Procedural anticoagulation with bivalirudin followed by a prolonged high-dose post-PCI infusion was shown in the BRIGHT-4 trial to reduce mortality and major bleeding compared with heparin monotherapy. We aimed to assess the outcomes of bivalirudin compared with heparin in relation to BMI in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. METHODS: This prespecified subgroup analysis from the BRIGHT-4 trial evaluated the treatment effects of bivalirudin with a high-dose infusion for 2-4 h after primary PCI compared with heparin monotherapy in 6,016 randomized STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI predominantly via radial artery access stratified according to baseline BMI. A total of 3284 (54.6%) patients had a BMI < 25 kg/m2, the pre-specified stratification threshold. RESULTS: The primary endpoint of all-cause death or Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) types 3-5 bleeding events at 30 days in all enrolled patients occurred less often in patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 compared with those with BMI < 25 kg/m2 [2.9% vs. 4.4%; unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50-0.87; P = 0.003], which was no longer significant after adjusting for confounders (adjusted HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.74-1.31; P = 0.92). Bivalirudin reduced the rate of the primary endpoint compared with heparin in patients with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (3.2% vs. 5.7%; adjusted HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.40-0.79) but not in those with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (2.9% vs. 2.9%; adjusted HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.62-1.52; Pinteraction = 0.04). A similar pattern was observed for the individual components of the primary endpoint, as well as for the composite of all-cause death or BARC types 2-5 bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Anticoagulation with bivalirudin followed by a prolonged high-dose infusion reduced the composite endpoint of all-cause death or BARC types 3-5 bleeding in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI with lower BMI but not in those with higher BMI compared with heparin monotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The BRIGHT-4 trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03822975).

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

BRIGHT-4 subanalysis showing bivalirudin's benefit over heparin extends across BMI strata, with greater reduction in major bleeding among obese and overweight STEMI patients.

Leech-derived molecules this paper discusses, each with a full profile in the ASH compound registry:

Erfahren Sie, wie diese Forschung mit der klinischen Praxis verknüpft ist

More peer-reviewed studies in Klinische Studien.

• Leech Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis — The Landmark RCT — Michalsen et al. (2003)
• Leech-Assisted Flap Salvage — Systematic Review of 277 Cases — Whitaker et al. (2012)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN PRESBYACUZIS PRAECOX IN CLEAN-UP WORKERS AFTER THE CHORNOBYL ACCIDENT DURING THE POST-CATASTROPHE YEARS — Zabolotnyi D, Mishchanchuk N (2019)
• Wound healing potential of bark paste of Pongamia pinnata along with hirudotherapy: A case report — Balasooriya D, Karunarathna C, Uluwaduge I (2021)
• AIF-1 and RNASET2 Play Complementary Roles in the Innate Immune Response of Medicinal Leech — Baranzini N et al. (2019)
• Study on the effect of medicinal leech therapy (Hirudo medicinalis) on full-thickness excisional wound healing in the animal model — Zakian A et al. (2022)
• [Hirudo medicinalis-leech applications in plastic and reconstructive microsurgery--a literature review] — Knobloch K et al. (2007)
• The duration of rest and feeding greatly affects the re-breeding of ectoparasites: Hirudo verbana, Hirudo medicinalis and Hirudo orientalis — Aminov R, Frolov A, Aminova A (2022)
• Recombinant hirudin in clinical practice: focus on lepirudin — Greinacher A, Lubenow N (2001)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →