Bivalirudin is shown to be a competent substitute for heparin in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The safety and efficacy of bivalirudin in patients undergoing PCI and vascular brachytherapy (VBT) are not known. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of bivalirudin as a single antithrombotic agent in patients undergoing PCI and VBT.

A total of 152 patients enrolled in the Brachytherapy and Bivalirudin Evaluation Study underwent PCI and VBT with either gamma (n = 8) or β radiation (n = 144). The main outcome measures were in-hospital events and 30-day clinical outcomes. All patients were treated with bivalirudin (0.75 mg/kg bolus and 1.75 mg/kg per hour infusion for β radiation, 1 mg/kg bolus and 2.5 mg/kg per hour infusion for gamma radiation) as a single antithrombotic agent during the entire procedure.

Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. More than 90% of the patients received β radiation. In-hospital events showed a higher prevalence of acute procedural intracoronary thrombosis in patients treated with gamma- vs β radiation (25% vs. 0.7%, P < .001). Thirty-day outcomes including death, Q-wave, and non–Q-wave myocardial infarctions, subacute stent thromboses, and repeat revascularizations were similar in both groups.

Bivalirudin, as a single antithrombotic agent during PCI and VBT with β emitters, may be used safely, but its use in the setting of PCI and gamma radiation may not be acceptable due to an increased incidence of acute procedural intracoronary thrombosis.