The evolving role of direct thrombin inhibitors in acute coronary syndromes.

The central role of thrombin in the initiation and propagation of intravascular thrombus provides a strong rationale for direct thrombin inhibitors in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Direct thrombin inhibitors are theoretically likely to be more effective than indirect thrombin inhibitors, such as unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin, because the heparins block only circulating thrombin, whereas direct thrombin inhibitors …