Results of the ISAR-REACT 4 study have shown that combined therapy of abciximab and unfractionated heparin is not associated with a lower 30-day rate of death, large recurrent myocardial infarction, urgent target-vessel revascularization, or major bleeding than bivalirudin therapy (10.9% vs 11.0%; relative risk 0.99, 95% CI 0.74–1.32, P = 0.94) in patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who were undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, more major bleeding within 30 days was noted for the abciximab plus heparin group (4.6% vs 2.6%; relative risk 1.84, 95% CI 1.10–3.07, P = 0.02). The investigators believe that their results “support the use of bivalirudin as an effective and safe antithrombotic drug during PCI in patients with NSTEMI.”
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Kastrati, A. et al. Abciximab and heparin versus bivalirudin for non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction. N. Engl. J. Med. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1109596
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Abciximab plus heparin is not superior to bivalirudin in patients with acute NSTEMI who are undergoing PCI. Nat Rev Cardiol 9, 6 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2011.189
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2011.189