Related Experiment Videos
Transient thrombotic state after abrupt discontinuation of heparin in percutaneous coronary angioplasty
A J Smith1, R E Holt, J B Fitzpatrick
1Cardiac Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
Clinical and biochemical evidence of a rebound phenomenon after discontinuing thrombin inhibitors has been reported in patients with unstable angina. To investigate if a similar phenomenon occurs in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty, 14 patients were prospectively studied during and after discontinuation of heparin infusion. A transient thrombotic state identified by a significant increase in a polypeptide fragment and fibrinopeptide A was observed 3 hours after abruptly discontinuing heparin infusion. This observation may be clinically important in managing patients after coronary angioplasty.
Clinical and biochemical evidence of a rebound phenomenon after discontinuing thrombin inhibitors has been reported in patients with unstable angina. To investigate if a similar phenomenon occurs in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty, 14 patients were prospectively studied during and after discontinuation of heparin infusion. A transient thrombotic state identified by a significant increase in a polypeptide fragment and fibrinopeptide A was observed 3 hours after abruptly discontinuing heparin infusion. This observation may be clinically important in managing patients after coronary angioplasty.