Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Circulation
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
Circulation. 1995;92:727-733

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Fuchs, J.
Right arrow Articles by Cannon, C. P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Fuchs, J.
Right arrow Articles by Cannon, C. P.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Compound via MeSH
*Substance via MeSH
Hazardous Substances DB
*ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID

(Circulation. 1995;92:727-733.)
© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.


Articles

Hirulog in the Treatment of Unstable Angina

Results of the Thrombin Inhibition in Myocardial Ischemia (TIMI) 7 Trial

Joanna Fuchs, MD; Christopher P. Cannon, MD; and the TIMI 7 Investigators1

From the Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass.


*    Abstract
up arrowTop
*Abstract
down arrowIntroduction
down arrowMethods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Background Direct thrombin inhibitors are a new class of drugs that may offer a more effective and potentially simpler alternative to heparin. Hirulog is a synthetic peptide based on the leech-derived compound hirudin and, like hirudin, is a highly specific, direct inhibitor of free and clot-bound thrombin.

Methods and Results TIMI 7 was a randomized, double-blind study of Hirulog, given with 325 mg/d aspirin to 410 patients with unstable angina. Patients received a constant infusion of Hirulog for 72 hours at one of four doses: 0.02 (n=160), 0.25 (n=81), 0.5 (n=88), and 1.0 (n=81) mg · kg-1 · h-1. The primary efficacy end point was "unsatisfactory outcome," defined as death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), rapid clinical deterioration, or recurrent ischemic pain at rest with ECG changes by 72 hours. Unsatisfactory outcome was not different among the four dose groups: 8.1%, 6.2%, 11.4%, and 6.2% (P=NS). However, the secondary end point of death or nonfatal MI through hospital discharge occurred in 10.0% of patients treated with 0.02 mg · kg-1 · h-1 compared with 3.2% of patients treated with the three higher doses of Hirulog (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg · kg-1 · h-1, P=.008). Only 2 of 410 patients (0.5%) experienced a major hemorrhage attributed to Hirulog.

Conclusions The direct thrombin inhibitor Hirulog is a promising new antithrombotic agent that deserves further study. The results of TIMI 7 lend support to the use of an antithrombin agent with aspirin in patients with unstable angina.


Key Words: Hirulog • angina • anticoagulants


*    Introduction
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
*Introduction
down arrowMethods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Plaque rupture, platelet activation, and coronary artery thrombus formation play important roles in the pathogenesis of unstable angina.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Therefore, it follows that the antiplatelet agent aspirin9 10 11 12 and the anticoagulant heparin11 13 14 15 16 17 are effective in reducing the mortality and morbidity associated with this condition. Accordingly, these two agents are now considered standard therapy for the treatment of unstable angina. However, neither heparin nor aspirin is able to eliminate the significant risk of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and recurrent ischemic pain in patients with unstable angina.8 Heparin is unable to inhibit clot-bound thrombin, and its clinical efficacy is mediated by its effect on circulating thrombin.18 In addition, heparin is susceptible to neutralization by activated platelets.19 20 The use of heparin requires frequent adjustments of dose and monitoring of its anticoagulant effects, and it is associated with a nontrivial bleeding risk.19 Although rare, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia can impose considerable risk.19

Direct antithrombins are a new class of drugs that have shown great promise in experimental and human studies. Hirulog (Biogen) is a novel 20-amino-acid synthetic peptide inhibitor of thrombin.21 In addition to its assessment in experimental models22 23 and healthy volunteers,24 previous clinical experience with Hirulog in patients with coronary artery disease has been encouraging.25 26 27 28 Sharma et al25 and Lidon et al26 treated a total of 75 patients with unstable angina, using doses of Hirulog ranging from 0.02 to 1.0 mg · kg-1 · h-1. Both studies found Hirulog to be active and well tolerated, with dose-dependent prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and reduction in plasma fibrinopeptide A levels. No major hemorrhagic or allergic complications occurred in these 75 patients. Hirulog has also been used during cardiac catheterization27 and angioplasty.28 Both studies demonstrated that Hirulog provides a predictable level of anticoagulation with minimal bleeding and no allergic reactions. At doses >1.8 mg · kg-1 · h-1 during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), the abrupt closure rate was decreased compared with the lower doses of Hirulog.28

TIMI 7 was designed as a randomized, double-blind pilot trial to evaluate whether a dose response existed in the efficacy of Hirulog used in conjunction with aspirin in patients with unstable angina.


*    Methods
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
*Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Eligibility Criteria
Patients between the ages of 21 and 75 years with ischemic chest pain were screened for enrollment at 29 clinical centers (see "Appendix"). To be eligible for enrollment, patients had to experience ischemic pain at rest lasting at least 5 minutes and not longer than 60 minutes within 24 hours of randomization and at least 24 hours after a documented MI, if present. Associated evidence of coronary artery disease was also required. The latter included (1) a history of coronary artery disease, defined as one of the following: a documented prior MI, the presence of a 70% luminal diameter narrowing of a major coronary artery on a prior angiogram, or a positive thallium or sestamibi exercise test (ST-segment depression >=0.1 mV and a definite reversible defect) or (2) ECG evidence of myocardial ischemia obtained during an episode of ischemic pain at rest within 7 days before enrollment, defined as the presence of any of the following in two or more contiguous leads: transient ST-segment elevation >=0.1 mV, transient or persistent ST-segment depression >=0.1 mV, or transient or persistent T-wave inversion.

Exclusion Criteria
Exclusion criteria were persistent ST-segment elevation >=0.1 mV in two or more contiguous leads, left bundle-branch block, a treatable cause of angina pectoris, acute pulmonary edema, other major illness including renal failure with serum creatinine >3.0 mg/dL, confirmed systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg, inability to be compliant with the protocol, positive pregnancy test, PTCA within the previous 6 months, coronary artery bypass surgery within the previous 2 months, current enrollment in another clinical trial or treatment with an investigational drug or therapy, current anticoagulation therapy with aPTT >41 seconds and/or prothrombin time >14 seconds, history of active peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, thrombocytopenia or coagulopathy within the previous month, stroke within the previous month, sensitivity or allergy to aspirin, and previous participation in TIMI 7.

The protocol was approved by each hospital's Institutional Review Board, and informed consent was obtained from each patient.

Study Design and Protocol
Eligible patients were randomized to receive one of four doses of Hirulog in conjunction with aspirin, designed to span a range of levels of anticoagulation. The doses of Hirulog were 0.02, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 mg · kg-1 · h-1, with a randomization ratio of 2 (0.02 mg · kg-1 · h-1) to 1 (0.25 mg · kg-1 · h-1) to 1 (0.50 mg · kg-1 · h-1) to 1 (1.0 mg · kg-1 · h-1). Patients were randomized by use of consecutive sealed envelopes, and 420 patients were enrolled.

Dose-blinded study drug was administered as a continuous infusion for 72 hours unless the patient experienced a major safety or efficacy end point. After the Hirulog infusion, the use of heparin was at the discretion of the treating physician and was carried out in 46% of patients. On-site measurement of coagulation parameters such as aPTT, prothrombin time, or activated clotting time was not permitted except for emergency management. Blood samples for aPTT determination in a central laboratory were obtained at baseline, 12 to 24 and 36 to 48 hours after the start of infusion, and 12 to 24 hours after the discontinuation of study drug.

All patients received 325 mg of aspirin daily. Additional conventional medical therapy for unstable angina, including bed rest, ß-blockers, calcium antagonists, nitrates, and oxygen, was administered at the discretion of the treating physician. Coronary angiography was deferred during the study drug infusion. During hospitalization, patients were monitored for recurrent ischemic pain and MI. ECGs were obtained for ischemic pain at rest lasting at least 5 minutes. Serial creatine kinase isoenzymes and ECGs were obtained after enrollment and for recurrent ischemic pain at rest lasting more than 30 minutes. ECGs and enzyme measurements were interpreted by the ECG Core Laboratory, which was blinded to treatment assignment.

Patients were also monitored during and through 24 hours after the study drug infusion for clinical evidence of bleeding and other adverse study events. Patients were contacted by telephone to determine the incidence of clinical events between hospital discharge and 6 weeks.

End Points
Efficacy
The primary efficacy end point was "unsatisfactory outcome," a composite end point defined as the occurrence of any of the following at 72 hours: death, MI not present at enrollment, recurrent ischemia at rest with ECG changes, and rapid clinical deterioration (other than ischemic pain) necessitating emergency angiography/revascularization. MI was defined as in TIMI 3,8 and ischemia was defined as ischemic pain at rest lasting >5 minutes with documented ECG changes sufficient to satisfy inclusion criteria. Secondary efficacy end points were the individual components of the primary end point and the incidence of death and nonfatal MI at 6 weeks.

Safety
The incidence of hemorrhagic events (classified as major or minor) was determined for each dose group. Major hemorrhage was defined as intracranial, retroperitoneal, or clinically overt hemorrhage with a fall in hemoglobin of at least 3 g/dL or leading to a transfusion of two or more units of blood. Minor hemorrhage was defined as clinically overt bleeding that did not fulfill the criteria for major hemorrhage.

Components of the primary end point were confirmed by the ECG Core Laboratory (MI, recurrent ischemia, rapid clinical deterioration) and by the Morbidity and Mortality Classification Committee (death, MI, rapid clinical deterioration, major hemorrhage), both of which were blinded to treatment assignment.

Statistical Considerations
The sample size and allocation ratio were chosen so that tests conducted using a combined response of two of the three higher-dose groups versus the 0.02 mg · kg-1 · h-1 dose group response would have at least 90% power to detect a reduction in the incidence of unsatisfactory outcome by 60%, assuming an incidence of 25% in patients treated with 0.02 mg · kg-1 · h-1. Significance testing was performed with the Fisher exact test. For the primary analysis, a value of P<.05 was considered significant; for secondary analyses, to account for multiple comparisons, a value of P<.01 was considered significant. Two cohorts of patients were prospectively identified for efficacy analysis. The primary analysis was of all patients who received any amount of study drug. A second cohort of "evaluable" patients consisted of patients who met all eligibility criteria and received at least 4 hours of study drug.


*    Results
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
*Results
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowReferences
 
Patient Population
A total of 420 patients were randomized in the trial. Ten patients did not receive study drug, of whom 7 had an exclusion criterion identified after randomization, 2 became clinically unstable, and 1 subsequently refused to participate, leaving 410 patients in the prespecified study group. Three patients did not fulfill the inclusion criteria, and 6 received <4 hours of study drug, resulting in 401 evaluable patients. The results of the analyses of the evaluable cohort were similar to those of the primary analyses, and only the latter results are presented.

Baseline Characteristics
The mean age of the patients was 60 years, and one third were women (Table 1Down). Nearly half of the patients had a prior MI, and 30% of patients presented with new-onset angina. Protocol-defined ECG changes were present at enrollment in 220 patients (54%), divided equally between ST-segment deviation and isolated T-wave inversion. Thirty-three patients (8%) were subsequently determined to have had a non–Q-wave MI at the time of enrollment. The baseline characteristics were similar in each of the four dose groups. After the 72-hour study drug infusion, heparin was used in 46% of patients overall, with a smaller proportion of patients in the highest-dose group receiving heparin, 32% (four-way P=.03).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1. Baseline Characteristics of Study Patients

Unsatisfactory Outcome
There was no difference in the primary end point "unsatisfactory outcome" (ie, death, nonfatal MI, rapid clinical deterioration, or recurrent ischemic pain at rest with ECG changes) at 72 hours, which occurred in 8.1%, 6.2%, 11.4%, and 6.2% of patients, respectively, across the four ascending dose groups (four-way P=.56) (Fig 1Down). Similarly, although the event rates were higher, no difference was seen for this end point at hospital discharge (P=.38) (Table 2Down). Across the four dose groups, there was no difference in the incidence of recurrent rest pain with ECG changes, occurring in 6% to 8% of patients by hospital discharge.



View larger version (19K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. Primary end point. Bar graph showing incidence of unsatisfactory outcome by 72 hours across the four doses of Hirulog. Clin. Det. indicates rapid clinical deterioration (see text for definition); MI, myocardial infarction; N, number of patients (Pts); and Rec. isch., recurrent ischemia at rest with ECG changes.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 2. Unsatisfactory Outcome

Death and Nonfatal MI
The secondary end point of death or nonfatal MI at hospital discharge occurred in 16 of 160 patients (10.0%) in the low-dose group compared with 8 of 250 patients (3.2%) who received one of the three higher doses of Hirulog (0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 mg · kg-1 · h-1, P=.008) (Fig 2Down). A similar finding was observed at 6 weeks (12.5% versus 5.2%, P=.009). When patients with ST-segment deviation at enrollment, those with ST-segment deviation and/or T-wave inversion, and those without ECG changes were examined, trends were similar to those seen in the entire population: the rate of death or MI in the low- versus higher-dose groups was 13.0% versus 3.0% in patients with ST deviation (P=.06) and 9.3% versus 2.6% in those without ECG changes (P=.05).



View larger version (20K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. Bar graphs showing effect on mortality and nonfatal myocardial infarction at hospital discharge and 6 weeks. N indicates number of patients (Pts).

Angiography and Revascularization Procedures
Coronary angiography was performed before hospital discharge in 259 patients (63%). Angioplasty was performed in 72 patients (18% of the total population), and 84 (20%) underwent coronary artery bypass surgery, with no significant differences between the dose groups. Of the 250 patients with satisfactory angiograms, 88 (35%) had three-vessel disease, 130 (52%) had one- or two-vessel disease, and 32 (13%) had no stenoses >=70%. In patients undergoing angioplasty, there were no in-hospital deaths or MIs in patients treated with the higher doses of Hirulog, compared with 3 of 33 (9.1%) in the low-dose group (P=.09).

Hematologic Findings
At 12 to 24 hours after the start of infusion, the mean aPTT in the 0.02 mg · kg-1 · h-1 dose group was 38.1 seconds (139% of baseline), indicating that even this low dose of Hirulog was biologically active (Table 3Down). The mean aPTTs in the three high-dose groups at 12 to 24 hours were 65.2, 79.1, and 87.9 seconds, respectively. The mean aPTTs in all dose groups remained constant at the 24- to 36-hour time point. After the study drug was discontinued, aPTT values returned to baseline.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 3. Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) Response

Of the patients who received one of the three higher doses, 57.1% maintained an aPTT within a 10-second range throughout the study drug infusion without dose adjustment, 78.6% maintained a 20-second range, 92.9% a 30-second range, and 99.1% a 40-second range.

Safety End Points
Major spontaneous hemorrhage attributed to study drug occurred in two patients (0.5%); one patient in the 0.50 mg · kg-1 · h-1 dose group experienced a gastrointestinal bleed, and one patient who had received 1.0 mg · kg-1 · h-1 ruptured an abdominal aortic aneurysm 12 hours after the termination of the Hirulog infusion. Two additional patients in the 1.0 mg · kg-1 · h-1 dose group had minor bleeding that required termination of the study drug. There were no intracranial or retroperitoneal hemorrhages related to the study drug. Anaphylaxis was not observed.


*    Discussion
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
*Discussion
down arrowReferences
 
The treatment of unstable angina requires rapid inhibition of intracoronary thrombus formation or extension, a reduction of myocardial oxygen demand, and coronary vasodilation.29 While an aggressive regimen of ß-blockers, nitrates, calcium antagonists, and bed rest can reduce myocardial oxygen requirements and coronary vasospasm, results of clinical trials indicate that intracoronary plaque rupture and superimposed thrombus are best treated with anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet agents. Aspirin has been shown to reduce death and MI in patients with unstable angina and is now part of standard therapy.9 10 11 12 Heparin has also been shown to be effective in improving the clinical outcome of patients with unstable angina.11 13 14 15 16 17 In a study by Theroux et al,17 heparin was superior to aspirin in the management of these patients, supporting the concept that thrombin plays a central role in the pathogenesis of unstable angina. Recombinant hirudin, one of the new direct thrombin inhibitors, has also been studied in patients with unstable angina and, compared with heparin, demonstrated a trend toward more improvement in the average cross-sectional area of culprit lesion stenosis.30 These results suggest that direct thrombin inhibition may be even more effective in unstable angina than heparin.

Hirulog: Structure and Function
Hirulog was designed with the natural leech-derived thrombin inhibitor hirudin as a model.21 Structure-function studies of Hirulog show that it is composed of three domains: (1) a COOH-terminal domain whose sequence was derived from the hirudin COOH-terminus, which binds to a substrate recognition site unique to thrombin; (2) an NH2-terminal domain capable of blocking the catalytic-site activity of thrombin; and (3) a linker domain of four glycine residues.21 31 Hirulog reversibly inhibits all of the major actions of thrombin, including the cleavage of fibrinogen to fibrin, activation of platelets, and activation of factors V and VIII, a positive amplification reaction that generates more thrombin.32 33 It inhibits both free and clot-bound thrombin, which may prevent thrombus extension as well as formation.31 34 35

Clinical Effects
TIMI 7 was a randomized trial that examined the effects of four ascending doses of Hirulog used together with aspirin in patients with unstable angina. Although the lowest dose, 0.02 mg · kg-1 · h-1, was used as a control, even this dose had a modest effect, causing an 11-second (39%) prolongation of the aPTT. Even though the prespecified composite primary end point did not differ between dose groups, patients who received one of the three higher doses of Hirulog had a lower incidence of the secondary end point of death and nonfatal MI at hospital discharge (3.2%) than patients who received the low dose (10.0%). This difference in outcome persisted at 6 weeks. All four doses of Hirulog had stable effects on the aPTT and a very low incidence of major hemorrhage (0.5%).

Effective Anticoagulation
One of the potential advantages of Hirulog over heparin is its ability to establish a predictable and stable level of anticoagulation without dose titration. The aPTT response was stable over time in all dose groups; 92.9% and 99.1% of patients maintained aPTTs within 30- and 40-second ranges, respectively. Topol et al30 compared heparin and hirudin in unstable angina and reported that only 16% of patients who received heparin and 71% of those who received hirudin maintained aPTTs within a 40-second range. Similar results were observed in patients with acute MI who were also treated with TPA in TIMI 5; 19% of heparin-treated patients and 55% of hirudin-treated patients maintained a 40-second range.36 The stable level of anticoagulation provided by a constant infusion of Hirulog may contribute to both its safety and efficacy and certainly adds to the convenience of using this drug by reducing the need to obtain frequent aPTTs for dose titration.

All four doses were well tolerated, with a very low incidence of spontaneous major hemorrhage; these results support the findings of previous pilot trials that did not demonstrate excessive bleeding with Hirulog.25 26 27 28 31 The encouraging safety profile of this direct thrombin inhibitor may be due to its primary clearance by metabolic pathways; <20% of the administered dose is cleared by renal excretion.24 31 With a short half-life of 36 minutes,24 27 31 Hirulog is likely to be a relatively safe anticoagulant.

Combination Antithrombotic Therapy
Controversy persists concerning the relative benefits of aspirin, heparin, and their combination when used for acute ischemic syndromes. Several randomized trials have confirmed the efficacy of antiplatelet agents in unstable angina,9 10 11 12 37 while other trials have shown the clinical benefit of heparin.11 13 14 15 16 17 Although there appears to be benefit in the combination of an antiplatelet and an antithrombin,38 an additive effect on clinical outcome at hospital discharge or during follow-up by using heparin has not been definitively demonstrated to date.11 12 38 39 In this trial, all patients received 325 mg of aspirin daily, and those who received the higher doses of Hirulog, which achieved aPTT values in the range of 65 to 90 seconds, appeared to have an improved outcome (based on the secondary end point of death or MI) compared with patients who received aspirin and the low dose of Hirulog, which achieved aPTT values of approximately 40 seconds. These observations suggest that using aspirin plus a direct thrombin inhibitor, at a level of anticoagulation similar to what is considered the therapeutic range for heparin,19 may be more effective than aspirin and a low level of anticoagulation (or aspirin alone).

Limitations of the Study
The overall event rates were lower than expected, making the study underpowered to demonstrate a dose response. Because the protocol required that cardiac catheterization and revascularization be deferred during the initial 72-hour infusion, there may have been a reluctance to enroll the most acutely ill patients, and this may have contributed to the low overall event rate. Patients with chest pain lasting >1 hour were not eligible for the trial, which may also have contributed to the lower-than-expected event rate. For a definitive comparison with current therapy (ie, heparin), a single dose of Hirulog needs to be used in a much larger trial. Based on the findings of this trial, an appropriate dose would be one of the three higher doses. In addition, future trials in unstable angina should focus on death and nonfatal MI, which are more likely to be mediated by intracoronary thrombus and progression to occlusion.

Conclusions
In this pilot trial of 410 patients with unstable angina, the new direct thrombin inhibitor Hirulog, when added to aspirin, appears to be well tolerated and provides a stable aPTT without dose adjustment. While the incidence of unsatisfactory outcome at 72 hours did not differ among the various doses used, patients treated with the three higher doses of Hirulog had a lower incidence of the secondary end point of death and nonfatal MI, both at hospital discharge and 6 weeks, than those who received the low dose in addition to aspirin. Thus, Hirulog appears to be a promising new agent for use in the treatment of unstable angina. A larger, definitive study to compare its efficacy and safety with those of heparin appears warranted.


*    Acknowledgments
 
This study was supported by a grant from Biogen, Cambridge, Mass. Additional support was supplied by Genentech, South San Francisco, Calif.


*    Footnotes
 
Reprint requests to Eugene Braunwald, MD, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail timi@bwh.harvard.edu.

1 A complete list of the TIMI 7 Investigators is in the "Appendix." Back

Guest editor for this article was J. David Bristow, MD, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland.

Study Chairman's Office: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass. Study Chairman, Eugene Braunwald, MD. Coinvestigators, Joanna Fuchs, MD, Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Elliott M. Antman, MD. Project Director, Carolyn H. McCabe, BS. Study Coordinator, Tia DeFeo-Fraulini, MS.

Data Coordinating Center: Quintiles, Research Triangle Park, NC. Director, Bill Sollecito, DrPH. Project Manager, Laurence Wallman. Statistician, Gail Tudor, PhD.

Angiographic Core Laboratory: Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI. Principal Investigator, David O. Williams, MD. Director, Barry Sharaf, MD. Research Coordinators, Paula Ferreira, RN, Nicholas Miele, BA.

ECG Core Laboratory: St Louis University, St Louis, Mo. Principal Investigator, Bernard Chaitman, MD. Research Coordinator, Karen Stocke, BS.

Steering Committee: The members of the Steering Committee are the Study Chairman and the principal investigators of the core laboratories and of the clinical centers listed below.

Data and Safety Monitoring Board: Charles Hennekens, MD, DrPH (chair); John Kelton, MD, Gottlieb C. Friesinger II, MD, Bernard Gersh, MB, ChB, DPhil, Richard Gorlin, MD.

Morbidity and Mortality Classification Committee: Christopher P. Cannon, MD (chair); Steven Borzak, MD, Nieca Goldberg, MD, Timothy D. Henry, MD, Christopher Thompson, MD.

Clinical centers (in the order of the number of patients enrolled):

Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Mich. Principal Investigator, Steven Borzak, MD. Co–Principal Investigator, Philip L. Kraft, MD. Research Coordinator, Lori Douthat, RN.

Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Principal Investigator, Donald Palisaitis, MD. Research Coordinator, Ginette Gaudette, RN.

Emerson Hospital, Concord, Mass. Principal Investigator, Steven Herson, MD. Co–Principal Investigator, Richard Daum, MD. Research Coordinator, Gail Carey, RN.

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ. Principal Investigator, Sebastian Palmeri, MD. Research Coordinator, Laurie Casazza, RN.

University of Miami, Miami, Fla. Principal Investigator, Rafael Sequeira, MD. Coinvestigator, Eduardo de Marcena, MD. Research Coordinator, Carmen Prieto, RN.

West Roxbury VA Hospital, West Roxbury, Mass. Principal Investigator, G.V.R.K. Sharma, MD. Research Coordinator, Diane Lapsley, RN.

University of Calgary, Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Principal Investigator, J. Wayne Warnica, MD. Research Coordinators, Terry Churchill-Smith, RN, Lorraine Granberg, RN.

Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Mass. Principal Investigator, Daniel J. Diver, MD. Research Coordinator, Susan Marble, RN, MS.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Principal Investigator, Hiltrud Mueller, MD. Research Coordinator, Joseph Cosico, RN.

Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Principal Investigator, Raymond Magorien, MD. Research Coordinator, Jennifer Wilmer, RN.

Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. Principal Investigator, Nieca Goldberg, MD. Research Coordinator, Rosa Julien, RN.

Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill. Principal Investigator, Ferdinand Leya, MD. Research Coordinator, Ellen Galbraith, RN.

Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI. Principal Investigator, David O. Williams, MD. Co–Principal Investigator, George R. McKendall, MD. Research Coordinator, Louise Erickson, RN.

St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC. Principal Investigator, Christopher Thompson, MD. Research Coordinator, Etta Lau, RN.

Miami VA Hospital, Miami, Fla. Principal Investigator, Simon Chakko, MD. Research Coordinator, Carmen Prieto, RN.

Yale University, New Haven, Conn. Principal Investigator, Michael Remetz, MD. Research Coordinator, Gayle Mirto, RN.

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass. Principal Investigator, Elliott M. Antman, MD. Research Coordinator, Paul Sedgwick, RN.

St Luke's Hospital, New York, NY. Principal Investigator, Judith S. Hochman, MD. Research Coordinator, Mary McAnulty, RN.

Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY. Principal Investigator, Anthony J. Pepe, MD. Research Coordinator, Mary McAnulty, RN.

Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minn. Principal Investigator, Timothy D. Henry, MD. Research Coordinator, Lorri Knox, RN.

Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Mass. Principal Investigator, Marc Schweiger, MD. Research Coordinator, Deborah Warwick, RN.

Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY. Principal Investigator, James Wilentz, MD. Research Coordinator, Denise McDermott, RN.

University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Principal Investigator, Vincent Dangoisse, MD. Research Coordinator, Jacqueline Dangoisse.

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Los Angeles, Calif. Principal Investigator, Peter Mahrer, MD. Research Coordinators, Judy Fletcher, RN, Joni Noceda, RN.

Victoria General Hospital, Halifax, NS. Principal Investigator, Catherine Kells, MD. Research Coordinator, Vivian Nedelcu, RN.

Lahey Medical Center, Burlington, Mass. Principal Investigator, Sherif Labib, MD. Research Coordinator, Gail Woodhead, RN.

Hospital of the Good Samaritan, Los Angeles, Calif. Principal Investigator, Thomas Shook, MD. Research Coordinator, Lucille Junio, RN.

LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah. Principal Investigator, Jeffrey L. Anderson, MD. Research Coordinator, Ann Allen, RN.

Received January 9, 1995; accepted February 19, 1995.


*    References
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
up arrowDiscussion
*References
 
1. Davies MJ, Thomas A. Plaque fissuring: the cause of acute myocardial infarction, sudden ischemic death, and crescendo angina. Br Heart J. 1985;53:363-373. [Free Full Text]

2. Fitzgerald DJ, Roy L, Catella F, Fitzgerald GA. Platelet activation in unstable coronary disease. N Engl J Med. 1986;315:983-989. [Abstract]

3. Falk E. Unstable angina with fatal outcome: dynamic coronary thrombosis leading to infarction and/or sudden death. Circulation. 1985;71:699-708. [Abstract/Free Full Text]

4. Ambrose JA, Winters SL, Arora RR, Eng A, Riccio A, Gorlin R, Fuster V. Angiographic evolution of coronary artery morphology in unstable angina. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1986;7:472-478. [Abstract]

5. Sherman CT, Litvack F, Grundfest W, Lee M, Hickey A, Chaux A, Lass R, Kass R, Blance C, Martoff J, Morgenstern L, Ganz W, Swan HJC, Forrester J. Coronary angioscopy in patients with unstable angina pectoris. N Engl J Med. 1986;315:913-919. [Abstract]

6. Mandelkorn JB, Wolf NM, Surender S, Schechter JA, Kersh RI, Rodgers DM, Workman MB, Bentivoglio LG, LaPorte SM, Meister SG. Intracoronary thrombus in non-transmural myocardial infarction and in unstable angina. Am J Cardiol. 1983;52:1-6. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

7. Fuster V, Badimon L, Cohen M, Ambrose JA, Badimon JJ, Chesebro J. Insights into the pathogenesis of acute ischemic syndromes. Circulation. 1988;77:1213-1220. [Free Full Text]

8. The TIMI IIIB Investigators. Effects of tissue plasminogen activator and a comparison of early invasive and conservative strategies in unstable angina and non–Q-wave myocardial infarction: results of the TIMI IIIB trial. Circulation. 1994;89:1545-1556. [Abstract/Free Full Text]

9. Lewis HD, Davis JW, Archibald DG, Steinke WE, Smitherman TC, Doherty JE, Schnaper HW, LeWinter MM, Linares E, Pouget JM, Sabharwal SC, Chesler E, DeMots H. Protective effects of aspirin against acute myocardial infarction and death in men with unstable angina. N Engl J Med. 1983;309:396-403. [Abstract]

10. Cairns JA, Gent M, Singer J, Finnie KJ, Froggatt GM, Holder DA, Jablonsky G, Kostuk WJ, Melendez LJ, Myers MG, Sackett DL, Sealey BJ, Tanser PH. Aspirin, sulfinpyrazone, or both in unstable angina. N Engl J Med. 1985;313:1369-1375. [Abstract]

11. Theroux P, Ouimet H, McCans J, Latour J-G, Joly G, Levy G, Pelletier E, Juneau M, Stasiak J, deGuise P, Pelletier GB, Rinzler D, Waters DD. Aspirin, heparin or both to treat unstable angina. N Engl J Med. 1988;319:1105-1111. [Abstract]

12. The RISC Group. Risk of myocardial infarction and death during treatment with low dose aspirin and intravenous heparin in men with unstable coronary artery disease. Lancet. 1990;336:827-830. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

13. Wood P. Acute and subacute coronary insufficiency. Br J Med. 1961;1:1779-1782.

14. Tedford AM, Wilson C. Trial of heparin versus atenolol in prevention of myocardial infarction in intermediate coronary syndrome. Lancet. 1981;1:1225-1228.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

15. Williams DO, Kirby MG, McPhearson K, Phear DN. Anticoagulant treatment in unstable angina. Br J Clin Pract. 1986;40:114-116. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

16. Neri Serneri GG, Gensini GF, Poggesi L, Trotta F, Modesti PA, Boddi M, Ieri A, Margheri M, Casolo GC, Bini M, Rostagno C, Carnovali M, Abatte R. Effect of heparin, aspirin, or alteplase in reduction of myocardial ischaemia in refractory unstable angina. Lancet. 1990;335:615-618. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

17. Theroux P, Waters D, Qiu S, McCans J, de Guise P, Juneau M. Aspirin versus heparin to prevent myocardial infarction during the acute phase of unstable angina. Circulation. 1993;88:2045-2048. [Abstract/Free Full Text]

18. Weitz JI, Hudoba M, Massel D, Maraganore J, Hirsh J. Clot-bound thrombin is protected from inhibition by heparin-antithrombin III but is susceptible to inactivation by antithrombin III-independent inhibitors. J Clin Invest. 1990;86:385-391.

19. Hirsh J. Heparin. N Engl J Med. 1991;324:1565-1574. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

20. Maraganore JM, Bourdon P, Adelman B, Cannon CP, Theroux P. Heparin variability and resistance: comparisons with a direct thrombin inhibitor. Circulation. 1992;86(suppl I):I-386. Abstract.

21. Maraganore JM, Bourdon P, Jablonski J, Ramachandran KL, Fenton JW. Design and characterization of hirulogs: a novel class of bivalent peptide inhibitors of thrombin. Biochemistry. 1990;29:7095-7101. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

22. Kelly AB, Maraganore JM, Bourdon P, Hanson SR, Harker LA. Antithrombotic effects of synthetic peptides targeting various functional domains of thrombin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1992;89:6040-6044. [Abstract/Free Full Text]

23. Cadroy Y, Maraganore JM, Hanson SR, Harker LA. Selective inhibition by a synthetic hirudin peptide of fibrin-dependent thrombosis in baboons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991;88:1177-1191. [Abstract/Free Full Text]

24. Fox I, Dawson A, Loynds P, Eisner J, Findlen K, Levin E, Hanson D, Mant T, Wagner J, Maraganore J. Anticoagulant activity of HirulogTM, a direct thrombin inhibitor, in humans. Thromb Haemost. 1993;69:157-163. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

25. Sharma GVRK, Lapsey D, Vita JA, Sharma S, Coccio E, Adelman B, Loscalzo J. Usefulness and tolerability of Hirulog, a direct thrombin-inhibitor, in unstable angina pectoris. Am J Cardiol. 1993;72:1357-1360. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

26. Lidon R-M, Theroux P, Juneau M, Adelman B, Maraganore J. Initial experience with a direct antithrombin, Hirulog, in unstable angina: anticoagulant, antithrombotic, and clinical effects. Circulation. 1993;88:1495-1501. [Abstract/Free Full Text]

27. Cannon CP, Maraganore JM, Loscalzo J, McAllister A, Eddings K, George D, Selwyn AP, Adelman B, Fox I, Braunwald E, Ganz P. Anticoagulant effects of Hirulog, a novel thrombin inhibitor, in patients with coronary artery disease. Am J Cardiol. 1993;71:778-782. [Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

28. Topol EJ, Bonan R, Jewitt D, Sigwart U, Kakkar VV, Rothman M, de Bono D, Ferguson J, Willerson JT, Strony J, Ganz P, Cohen MD, Raymand R, Fox I, Maraganore J, Adelman B. Use of a direct antithrombin, Hirulog, in place of heparin during coronary angioplasty. Circulation. 1993;87:1622-1629. [Abstract/Free Full Text]

29. Braunwald E, Jones RH, Mark DB, Brown J, Brown L, Cheitlin MD, Concannon CA, Cowan M, Edwards C, Fuster V, Goldman L, Green LA, Grines CL, Lytle BW, McCauley KM, Mushlin AI, Rose GC, Smith EE III, Swain JA, Topol EJ, Willerson JT. Diagnosing and managing unstable angina. Circulation. 1994;90:613-622. [Abstract/Free Full Text]

30. Topol EJ, Fuster V, Harrington RA, Califf RM, Kleiman NS, Kereiakes DJ, Cohen M, Chapekis A, Gold HK, Tannenbaum MA, Rao AK, Debowey D, Schwartz D, Henis M, Chesebro J. Recombinant hirudin for unstable angina pectoris: a multicenter, randomized angiographic trial. Circulation. 1994;89:1557-1566. [Abstract/Free Full Text]

31. Cannon CP. Hirulog. In: Messerli FH, ed. Cardiovascular Drug Therapy. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co. In press.

32. Maraganore JM, Chao B, Joseph ML, Jablonski J, Ramachandran KL. Anticoagulant activity of synthetic hirudin peptides. J Biol Chem. 1989;264:8692-8698.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

33. Ofosu FA, Fenton JW, Maraganore J, Blajchman MA, Yang X, Smith L, Anvari N, Buchanan MR, Hirsh J. Inhibition of the amplification reactions of blood coagulation by site-specific inhibitors of alpha-thrombin. Biochem J. 1992;283:893-897.

34. Maraganore JM, Chao BH, Weitz JI, Hirsh J. Comparison of antithrombin activities of heparin and hirulog-1: basis for improved antithrombotic properties of direct thrombin inhibitors. Thromb Haemost. 1991;65:829. Abstract.

35. Maraganore JM. Pre-clinical and clinical studies on hirulog: a potent and specific direct thrombin inhibitor. In: Claeson G, Scully MF, Kakkar VV, Deadman J, eds. Design of Synthetic Inhibitors of Thrombin. New York, NY: Plenum Press; 1993:227-236.

36. Cannon CP, McCabe CH, Henry TD, Schweiger M, Gibson RS, Mueller HS, Becker RC, Kleiman NS, Haugland JM, Anderson JL, Sharaf BL, Edwards SJ, Rogers WJ, Williams DO, Braunwald E, for the TIMI 5 Investigators. A pilot trial of recombinant desulfatohirudin compared with heparin in conjunction with tissue-type plasminogen activator and aspirin for acute myocardial infarction: results of the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 5 Trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1994;23:993-1003. [Abstract]

37. Balsano F, Rizzon P, Violi F, Scrutinio D, Cimminiello C, Aguglia F, Pasotti C, Rudelli G, and the Studio della Ticlopidina nell'Angina Instabile Group. Antiplatelet treatment with ticlopidine in unstable angina: a controlled multicenter clinical trial. Circulation. 1990;82:17-26. [Abstract/Free Full Text]

38. Cohen M, Adams PC, Parry G, Xiong J, Chamberlain D, Wieczorek I, Fox KAA, Chesebro JH, Strain J, Keller C, Kelly A, Lancaster G, Ali J, Kronmal R, Fuster V, and the Antithrombotic Therapy in Acute Coronary Syndromes Research Group. Combination antithrombotic therapy in unstable rest angina and non–Q-wave infarction in nonprior aspirin users: primary end points analysis from the ATACS trial. Circulation. 1994;89:81-88. [Abstract/Free Full Text]

39. Cohen M, Adams PC, Hawkins L, Bach M, Fuster V. Usefulness of antithrombotic therapy in resting angina pectoris or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction in preventing death and myocardial infarction (a pilot study from the Antithrombotic Therapy in Acute Coronary Syndromes Research Group). Am J Cardiol. 1990;66:1287-1292.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
J CARDIOVASC PHARMACOL THERHome page
S. Singh, J. Molnar, and R. Arora
Efficacy and Safety of Bivalirudin Versus Heparins in Reduction of Cardiac Outcomes in Acute Coronary Syndrome and Percutaneous Coronary Interventions
Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, December 1, 2007; 12(4): 283 - 291.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
NEJMHome page
G. W. Stone, B. T. McLaurin, D. A. Cox, M. E. Bertrand, A. M. Lincoff, J. W. Moses, H. D. White, S. J. Pocock, J. H. Ware, F. Feit, et al.
Bivalirudin for Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes.
N. Engl. J. Med., November 23, 2006; 355(21): 2203 - 2216.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
W. H. Matthai Jr
Thrombocytopenia in Cardiovascular Patients: Diagnosis and Management
Chest, February 1, 2005; 127(2_suppl): 46S - 52S.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BloodHome page
P. Eichler, N. Lubenow, U. Strobel, and A. Greinacher
Antibodies against lepirudin are polyspecific and recognize epitopes on bivalirudin
Blood, January 15, 2004; 103(2): 613 - 616.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
J. Eikelboom, H. White, and S. Yusuf
The evolving role of direct thrombin inhibitors in acute coronary syndromes
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., February 19, 2003; 41(4_Suppl_S): 70S - 78S.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch Intern MedHome page
G. N. Levine, M. N. Ali, and A. I. Schafer
Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes
Arch Intern Med, April 9, 2001; 161(7): 937 - 948.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
E. Braunwald, E. M. Antman, J. W. Beasley, R. M. Califf, M. D. Cheitlin, J. S. Hochman, R. H. Jones, D. Kereiakes, J. Kupersmith, T. N. Levin, et al.
ACC/AHA guidelines for the management of patients with unstable angina and non-st-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A report of the american college of cardiology/ american heart association task force on practice guidelines (committee on the management of patients with unstable angina)
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 1, 2000; 36(3): 970 - 1062.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch Intern MedHome page
J. I. Weitz and S. M. Bates
Beyond Heparin and Aspirin: New Treatments for Unstable Angina and Non-Q-Wave Myocardial Infarction
Arch Intern Med, March 27, 2000; 160(6): 749 - 758.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
D. F. Kong, E. J. Topol, J. A. Bittl, H. D. White, P. Theroux, V. Hasselblad, and R. M. Califf
Clinical Outcomes of Bivalirudin for Ischemic Heart Disease
Circulation, November 16, 1999; 100(20): 2049 - 2053.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
K. G. Lehmann, R. J. van Suylen, J. Stibbe, C. J. Slager, J. A. Oomen, A. Maas, C. di Mario, P. deFeyter, and P. W. Serruys
Composition of Human Thrombus Assessed by Quantitative Colorimetric Angioscopic Analysis
Circulation, November 4, 1997; 96(9): 3030 - 3041.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
CirculationHome page
H. D. White, P. E. Aylward, M. J. Frey, A. A. J. Adgey, R. Nair, W. S. Hillis, Y. Shalev, M. A. Brown, J. K. French, R. Collins, et al.
Randomized, Double-blind Comparison of Hirulog Versus Heparin in Patients Receiving Streptokinase and Aspirin for Acute Myocardial Infarction (HERO)
Circulation, October 7, 1997; 96(7): 2155 - 2161.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
JAMAHome page
A. Oler, M. A. Whooley, J. Oler, and D. Grady
Adding Heparin to Aspirin Reduces the Incidence of Myocardial Infarction and Death in Patients With Unstable Angina: A Meta-analysis
JAMA, September 11, 1996; 276(10): 811 - 815.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
Journal Watch CardiologyHome page
Hirulog Plus Aspirin for Unstable Angina
Journal Watch Cardiology, November 1, 1995; 1995(1101): 5 - 5.
[Full Text]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Fuchs, J.
Right arrow Articles by Cannon, C. P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Fuchs, J.
Right arrow Articles by Cannon, C. P.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Compound via MeSH
*Substance via MeSH
Hazardous Substances DB
*ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID