Unfractionated heparin versus bivalirudin in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: A SWEDEHEART study

Aims: The aim of the study was to compare outcomes in unfractionated heparin (UFH) and bivalirudin-treated patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Methods and results: This observational study contained 20,612 PPCI patients treated with either UFH monotherapy or bivalirudin with or without concomitant UFH. Patients with oral anticoagulant or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI) treatment were excluded. The primary outcome measure was definite early stent thrombosis (ST) that occurred at low and similar rates in UFH only and bivalirudin-treated patients: 0.9% vs. 0.8% (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7-1.65). All-cause death at 30 days occurred in 6.9% vs. 5.4% of patients (adjusted HR 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05-1.44) and within 365 days in 12.1% vs. 8.9% (adjusted HR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.19-1.52) in the two groups, respectively. The incidence of major bleeding within 30 days was 0.8% vs. 0.6% (adjusted HR 1.54, 95% CI: 0.97-2.45). The incidence of reinfarction within 365 days and stroke within 30 days was similar between groups. Conclusions: In this large, nationwide observational study we found low and similar rates of early ST in UFH only and bivalirudin-treated patients undergoing primary PCI. Mortality was higher in UFH compared with bivalirudin-treated patients.