http://www.appliedradiology.com RSS Feed on Applied Radiologyhttp://www.appliedradiology.com//Issues/2001/11/Supplements/Antithrombotic-adjunctive-therapy.aspxAs the frequency of coronary disease and the number of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) rise, the search for an ideal anticoagulant regimen continues. Antithrombotic therapy is central in the treatment of the acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and during PCI. Unfractionated heparin has long been the cornerstone of therapy in those settings and is considered the standard of care. Recently, two new classes of antithrombotic agents have been developed and provide great promise in achieving better therapeutic outcomes with fewer complications. Low molecular weight heparins, most notably enoxaparin, have shown benefit in the treatment of ACS and are becoming more widely used. Bivalirudin, a direct antithrombin, has recently been approved for use during PCI. This article will evaluate the data available for the use of these promising agents during ACS and PCI.Thursday, 17 Jan 2002 01:01:29 GMT