Safety and efficacy of bivalirudin in acute coronary syndromes

Antithrombotic and powerful antiplatelet therapies, in addition to early percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are considered the treatment of choice for moderate- to high-risk patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS; unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction). However, despite the integration of newer therapies including stents, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI), and thienopyridines, the rate of adverse ischemic events still remains unacceptably high. Intensive pharmacologic regimens used to stabilize the disrupted atherosclerotic plaque and support angioplasty as well as surgical revascularization procedures, elicit a high rate of bleeding complications. Recent trials (ACUITY and HORIZONS studies) added evidence regarding safety and efficacy of bivalirudin use in acute coronary syndromes. In summary, is has been shown that bivalirudin alone is safe and effective in the vast majority of patients suffering from acute coronary syndromes and being treated invasively. The cost-effectiveness of such an approach will have to be determined. It remains to be a matter of discussion whether there are still patient subgroups being in need of more aggressive treatment strategies including GPI. In practice, it might be reasonable to perform a baseline assessment of hemorrhagic risk facilitating the choice of an antithrombotic regimen with a favourable safety and efficacy profile. With this tailored therapy it might be possible to further improve outcomes for individual patients with ACS.