Bivalirudin versus heparin in patients planned for coronary stenting

An analysis of all of the previous trials to date has been conducted to better define both the benefits and risks of the competing anticoagulants. Researchers found that, compared with heparin-based regimens, bivalirudin-based regimens increased the risk of heart attack and stent thrombosis. Bivalirudin-based regimens decreased the risk of bleeding, but by how much depended on whether other blood thinners were used more with heparin than with bivalirudin.