Bivalirudin infusion at standard or low regimen during elective percutaneous coronary intervention in high-risk bleeding patients with acute coronary syndrome: Study protocol for a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial
Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial published in Contemporary Clinical Trials (2025)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bleeding complications associated with anticoagulant therapy should receive more attention in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), especially in those considered at high-risk bleeding. The recommended dosage of bivalirudin in clinical guidelines may not be appropriate for East Asian populations. We are performing a trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of a low bivalirudin regimen without prolonging infusion in high-risk bleeding patients with ACS undergoing elective PCI. METHODS: The study is a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled, non-inferiority trial. A total of 2510 patients will be enrolled and randomly (1,1) allocated to either receive the low (80 % of the standard dose) or standard bivalirudin regimen without prolonging the infusion after PCI. The primary endpoint is net adverse clinical events (NACE) at 30 days, which is a composite of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE, including all-cause death, repeat revascularization, stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis) and any bleeding events defined by the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC). CONCLUSIONS: This proposed study is the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a low versus standard bivalirudin regimen during elective PCI in high-risk bleeding patients with ACS. The results may help achieve dose optimization for the use of perioperative bivalirudin in high-risk bleeding ACS patients undergoing elective PCI. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200064363. Registered on October 4, 2022.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
This protocol describes a prospective, open-label, randomized non-inferiority trial in 2510 high-bleeding-risk ACS patients undergoing elective PCI, comparing low-dose (80% of standard) versus standard bivalirudin infusion, with net adverse clinical events at 30 days as the primary endpoint.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This article describes a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled non-inferiority trial protocol (ChiCTR2200064363) evaluating a low bivalirudin regimen (80% of standard dose) versus standard bivalirudin without prolonged infusion during elective PCI in 2,510 high-risk bleeding ACS patients, with a primary endpoint of 30-day net adverse clinical events. Bivalirudin (formerly Hirulog) is a synthetic peptide anticoagulant designed partly on the C-terminal sequence of hirudin, the anticoagulant of the medicinal leech (Maraganore et al., 1990); this paper studies the drug, not leech therapy.
Citation
Reference (Vancouver style)
Li Y, Qi J, Gong Y, Zhou T, Zhang L, Li J, et al. Bivalirudin infusion at standard or low regimen during elective percutaneous coronary intervention in high-risk bleeding patients with acute coronary syndrome: Study protocol for a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2025;154:107941. doi:10.1016/j.cct.2025.107941. PMID: 40320071
Bibliographic details (authors, volume, pages, DOI) are taken from the PubMed record.
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