Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function
Published on: March 15, 2022
Direct thrombin inhibition during percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with heparin-induced
Bruce E Lewis1, Marcie J Hursting
1Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA. blewis@lumc.edu
Patients with or at risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) who are undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at particular risk of thrombosis due to the prothrombotic nature of HIT and the endovascular disruption from PCI. Patients require aggressive anticoagulation during PCI, and alternative, nonheparin anticoagulation is recommended over heparin in patients with acute or previous HIT. Argatroban, bivalirudin, and lepirudin are nonheparin, fast-acting, parenteral direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs). Multicenter, prospective studies have demonstrated that argatroban and lepirudin each reduce thrombosis in HIT and that argatroban and bivalirudin each provide adequate anticoagulation during PCI in patients with or at risk of HIT. We review current therapeutic practices with direct thrombin inhibitors in patients with or at risk of HIT during PCI, including individuals requiring periprocedural anticoagulation, and the factors influencing the choice of DTI in this setting.
Patients with or at risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) who are undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at particular risk of thrombosis due to the prothrombotic nature of HIT and the endovascular disruption from PCI. Patients require aggressive anticoagulation during PCI, and alternative, nonheparin anticoagulation is recommended over heparin in patients with acute or previous HIT. Argatroban, bivalirudin, and lepirudin are nonheparin, fast-acting, parenteral direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs). Multicenter, prospective studies have demonstrated that argatroban and lepirudin each reduce thrombosis in HIT and that argatroban and bivalirudin each provide adequate anticoagulation during PCI in patients with or at risk of HIT. We review current therapeutic practices with direct thrombin inhibitors in patients with or at risk of HIT during PCI, including individuals requiring periprocedural anticoagulation, and the factors influencing the choice of DTI in this setting.
Related Concept Videos
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care

