BRIGHT-4 Trial — Bivalirudin vs Heparin by BMI
Prespecified subgroup analysis of bivalirudin (a synthetic analogue of leech hirudin) versus heparin in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI, by body mass index
Summary
Prespecified subgroup analysis of the BRIGHT-4 randomized trial comparing bivalirudin (a synthetic analogue of leech hirudin) followed by a 2-4 h high-dose post-PCI infusion with heparin monotherapy in 6,016 randomized STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI, stratified by baseline BMI (3,284 patients, 54.6%, had BMI < 25 kg/m2). Bivalirudin reduced the 30-day composite of all-cause death or BARC 3-5 bleeding versus 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; P interaction = 0.04).
Citation
BMI differences on anticoagulation with bivalirudin vs. heparin during primary PCI: a BRIGHT-4 subanalysis
Zhang D, Li Y, Qiu M, et al. · BMC Medicine, 2025
Added to ASH library: March 18, 2026 · Site last updated: November 1, 2026