OBJECTIVES: The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the 30-day safety and efficacy of bivalirudin with those of heparin with or without routine administration of a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). BACKGROUND: Bivalirudin has been a mainstay of anticoagulation in patients with ACS compared with heparin. The extent to which trial results have been affected by the coadministration of heparin with a GPI, however, remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 13 randomized, controlled trials involving 24,605 patients were included. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in 30-day mortality or myocardial infarction rate with bivalirudin compared with heparin with or without routine GPI administration. A reduction of 30-day major bleeding was observed with bivalirudin compared with heparin that was significant when GPI was routinely administered (odds ratio [OR]: 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.45 to 0.60), p < 0.001) but not with provisionally administered GPI (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.33 to 1.32; p = 0.24). The occurrence of stent thrombosis (ST) at 30 days was significantly increased with bivalirudin compared with heparin plus routinely administered GPI (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.45, p = 0.02), but not compared with heparin plus provisionally administered GPI (OR: 2.08, 95% CI: 0.35 to 12.32, p = 0.42). The rate of acute ST (≤24 h), however, was almost 4.5-fold higher with bivalirudin compared with heparin with or without GPI, whereas the rate of subacute ST (24 h to 30 days) did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, bivalirudin in ACS patients is associated with a significant reduction of major bleeding compared with heparin plus routinely administered GPI, but with a marked increase in ST rates compared with heparin with or without GPI.

, , , ,
doi.org/10.1016/j.jcin.2014.10.003, hdl.handle.net/1765/82184
JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Navarese, E. P., Schulze, V., Andreotti, F., Kowalewski, M., Kołodziejczak, M., Kandzari, D., … Valgimigli, M. (2015). Comprehensive meta-analysis of safety and efficacy of bivalirudin versus heparin with or without routine glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients with acute coronary syndrome. JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions, 8(1), 201–213. doi:10.1016/j.jcin.2014.10.003