Impact of renal function on argatroban therapy during percutaneous coronary intervention

Argatroban, a hepatically metabolized direct thrombin inhibitor, is approved for anticoagulation in patients with or at risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We investigated the effect of renal function on argatroban therapy during PCI. From previous argatroban studies in PCI, we evaluated relationships between estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) and activated clotting times (ACTs), dosage, and outcomes in 219 patients with or at risk of HIT (HIT group, n = 67) or administered glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition (non-HIT group, n = 152). Patients received an argatroban bolus (350 mcg/kg, HIT group; 250 or 300 mcg/kg, non-HIT group) then 25-30 mcg/kg/min (adjusted to achieve ACTs 300-450 s, HIT group) or 15 mcg/kg/min (target ACTs 275-325 s, non-HIT group), with additional 150-mcg/kg boluses if needed. Of 219 patients, 55 (25%) had CrCl