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A correction has been published 1

Review ArticleDrug TherapyFree Preview

Direct Thrombin Inhibitors

List of authors.
  • Marcello Di Nisio, M.D.,
  • Saskia Middeldorp, M.D.,
  • and Harry R. Büller, M.D.

Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) are a new class of anticoagulants that bind directly to thrombin and block its interaction with its substrates. Four parenteral DTIs have been approved by the FDA — hirudin and argatroban for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, bivalirudin as an alternative to heparin in percutaneous coronary intervention, and desirudin as prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism in hip replacement. This article discusses the clinical data on this important new class of medications.

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Funding and Disclosures

Dr. Büller reports having received consulting fees from AstraZeneca.

We are indebted to Dr. Ron J.G. Peters, Department of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, for critical review of the manuscript.

Author Affiliations

From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam (M.D., S.M., H.R.B.); and the Department of Medicine and Aging, School of Medicine and Aging Research Center, Gabriele D'Annunzio University Foundation, Chieti–Pescara, Italy (M.D.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Di Nisio at the Academic Medical Center, Department of Vascular Medicine F4-138, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, or at .

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