"Together these studies cover an enormous therapeutic range, but each has the potential to change the day-to-day management of patients with cardiovascular disease," said Matthew R. Wolff, M.D., F.A.C.C., University of Wisconsin.
Prospective, Randomized Comparison of Heparin Plus IIb/IIIa Inhibition and Bivalirudin With or Without IIb/IIIa Inhibition in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes: The ACUITY Trial
When the final results of the ACUITY trial are unveiled, they are expected to show whether a synthetic version of an anti-clotting compound can improve on existing medical therapy for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The Acute Catheterization and Urgent Intervention Triage Strategy (ACUITY) trial compared the direct thrombin inhibitor bivalirudin, with or without a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI, which prevents platelets from clumping together to form a blood clot), to the indirect thrombin inhibitor heparin, plus a GPI. The study is part of ongoing research aimed at improving clinical outcomes in ACS therapy while limiting the risk of serious bleeding.
Acute coronary syndrome is an umbrella diagnosis that encompasses both unstable angina and a type of heart attack known as non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Today, drug therapy typically consists of aspirin, clopidogrel, heparin, and a GPI. Each of these medications interferes at a specific point in the blood clotting process in t
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13-Mar-2006