Potential mechanism of acute stent thrombosis with bivalirudin following percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndromes

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials have demonstrated an excess of acute stent thrombosis (AST) in acute coronary syndromes patients (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bivalirudin compared to heparin. We aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms responsible for thrombus formation under bivalirudin. METHODS: We compared heparin and bivalirudin during PCI for ACS in a prospective monocentre randomized study. Twenty patients were included after coronary angiography and received a loading dose (LD) of 180mg of ticagrelor at the time of PCI. They were randomly assigned to heparin (70UI/kg) intra-venous (IV) bolus or bivalirudin IV bolus of 0.75mg/kg followed by an infusion of 1.75mg/kg/h until the end of the PCI. The VASP index and thrombin generation test were used to assess the course of platelet reactivity (PR) and thrombin generation. RESULTS: Thrombin generation and PR were identical in both groups at baseline. There was no difference in the course of PR following the LD over time. An optimal PR inhibition was reached 4h after the LD of ticagrelor. Heparin and bivalirudin infusion effectively inhibited thrombin generation during PCI. However, 4h after the end of bivalirudin infusion, thrombin generation had returned to its baseline value whereas in the heparin group it remained significantly inhibited compared to baseline and to the bivalirudin group 4h after the end of the infusion (p<0.01 and p<0.02 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that the short half-life of bivalirudin and the quick restoration of thrombin activity at a time when optimal PR is not reached may be responsible for acute stent thrombosis. Clinicaltrial.gov: NCT02428725.

Resumen tomado de PubMed (NCBI) para el registro citado, en el idioma original. La versión de referencia es la de la publicación original.

El resumen se deja sin traducir para conservar la redacción original de los autores.

In 20 ACS patients randomized to heparin or bivalirudin during PCI, thrombin generation returned to baseline four hours after bivalirudin infusion ended while heparin's inhibition persisted, possibly explaining excess acute stent thrombosis.

Explore cómo esta investigación se conecta con la práctica clínica

Más estudios revisados por pares en la categoría «Ensayos clínicos».

• 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)
• Efficacy and Safety of Hirudotherapy for Improving Sperm Quality Parameters in Male Infertility: A Randomized Controlled Trial — Abtahi-Forooshani M et al. (2026)
• Reverse Sural Flap Venous Congestion Successfully Managed With Enoxaparin in a Male Patient With a Traumatic Foot Crush Injury: A Case Report — Velasco-Bustamante J et al. (2026)
• Investigación de los efectos terapéuticos del tratamiento con sanguijuelas medicinales sobre la lesión por isquemia-reperfusión de la extremidad inferior — Ünal K et al. (2026)
• Efficacy of Medicinal Leech Therapy in Diverse Clinical Applications: A Comprehensive Study from Azerbaijan — Farzali S et al. (2025)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY: CASE-REPORTS AND REVIEW — Heinz P et al. (2020)
• Hirudoterapia en la cicatrización de heridas — Nair H et al. (2022)
• Improvement of patient care through hirudotherapy and the management of leeches from their reception to their disposal in France — Vaesken C et al. (2023)

Ver toda la investigación analizada por la ASH →