Bivalirudin for patients with acute coronary syndromes

A study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of bivalirudin as part of an early invasive strategy with optimal antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes. It was found that in patients with unstable angina or myocardial infarction without ST-segment elevation who were undergoing early invasive management, the rates of ischemic events and bleeding were similar with the use of either bivalirudin or heparin when combined with the planned use of a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor.