Unfractionated heparin versus bivalirudin in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (HEAT-PPCI): an open-label, single centre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2014 Jul 4.

Although primary PCI is the preferred approach to treatment of STEMI, the optimal concomitant antithrombotic regimen is unknown.

This study compared bivalirudin to unfractionated heparin with the primary combined endpoint of death, CVA, reinfarction and target lesion revascularization.

In spite of the fact that the trial was designed to favor bivalirudin (open-label), the authors found an increased rate in the primary outcome in the bivalirudin group (8.7% vs. 5.7%).

Further proof that just because a drug is new, doesn’t mean it’s better.

PCI- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.
STEMI- ST elevation Myocardial Infarction.

G MOHAN.