Clinician update: direct thrombin inhibitors in acute coronary syndromes.

Antithrombotic therapy has become the cornerstone of the treatment for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Unfractionated heparin (UFH) has been the thrombin inhibitor of choice for decades. UFH, however, has its deficiencies. To overcome these problems several direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) have been developed. These agents are capable of inactivating clot-bound thrombin more efficiently, and provide more predictable and safer anticoagulation in patients with of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The initial studies of hirudin and bivalirudin in the clinical settings of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), unstable angina (UA) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) conducted in the early 1990s proved to be disappointing. As the knowledge of more appropriate use of these drugs progressed, there is a renewed interest in DTIs. Herein we will review the clinical studies assessing hirudin, bivalirudin and argatroban in the settings of AMI, UA and PCI.