TRANSIENT THROMBOTIC STATE AFTER ABRUPT DISCONTINUATION OF HEPARIN INPERCUTANEOUS CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

Clinical and biochemical evidence of a rebound phenomenon after discon tinuing thrombin inhibitors has been reported in patients with unstabl e angina. To investigate if a similar phenomenon occurs in patients un dergoing coronary angioplasty, 14 patients were prospectively studied during and after discontinuation of heparin infusion. A transient thro mbotic state identified by a significant increase in a polypeptide fra gment and fibrinopeptide A was observed 3 hours after abruptly discont inuing heparin infusion. This observation may be clinically important in managing patients after coronary angioplasty.