Summary

This article presents results from the How Effective Are Antithrombotic Therapies in Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention trial [HEAT PPCI; NCT01519518]. All patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction presenting at a single United Kingdom center were randomized to open-label treatment with heparin (70 units/kg body weight preprocedure) or bivalirudin (bolus of 0.75 mg/kg followed by 1.75 mg/kg/hour infusion during the procedure) on top of preprocedure dual antiplatelet therapy.