[Enoxaparin vs. non-fractionated heparin in primary angioplasty of acute myocardial infarction].

Objective: The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of intravenous enoxaparin (ENX) and Non-fractionated Heparin (NFH) in primary angioplasty (PA) of acute myocardial infarction (PA-AMI).
Design: A prospective, observational study.
Patients and Methods: A total of 191 patients admitted at the hospital with the diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and treated with primary angioplasty were included. ENX was used in 91 patients (47.6%) and NFH in 100 patients (52.4%). Choice of treatment was based on the operator's opinion. Patients with cardiogenic shock were excluded. The first group received an intravenous bolus of ENX (0.75-1 mg/Kg) and the second one NFH (70-100 u/Kg), depending on whether it was associated with abciximab or not. In-hospital follow-up was performed, evaluating mortality and bleeding complications of both treatments.
Results: In-hospital mortality was 1.1% for the ENX group and 3.3% for NFH one. No significant differences were found in the number of bleeding complications with ENX (4.4%) and NFH (9.0%). There was one subacute thrombosis of stent for the ENX group and 3 thrombosis in the NFH-treated group. No significant differences were found in size of infarction measure with troponin I level (63.1 for ENX and 54.8 for the NFH) or in the left ventricle ejection fraction on hospital discharge (51% for ENX and 49.4% for the NFH).
Conclusions: Primary angioplasty can be safely sued with the intravenous administration of ENX, no significant differences being found between both treatments in mortality and bleeding complications.