A comparison of recombinant Hirudin with Heparin for the treatment of acute coronary syndromes. The Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries (GUSTO) IIb Investigators
BACKGROUND: Thrombin has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary thrombosis. We compared the clinical efficacy of a potent, direct thrombin inhibitor, recombinant hirudin, with that of heparin (an indirect antithrombin agent) in patients with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: At 373 hospitals in 13 countries, 12,142 patients with acute coronary syndromes were randomly assigned to 72 ho
