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Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs)
Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving bivalirudin IV for a PCI procedure. Which of the following laboratory tests should the nurse monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug?
Choice A is wrong because PT stands for prothrombin time, which is a test that measures the extrinsic pathway of coagulation and the effect of warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist. PT is not affected by bivalirudin.
Choice B is wrong because INR stands for international normalized ratio, which is a standardized way of reporting PT results and the effect of warfarin. INR is also not affected by bivalirudin.
Choice C is wrong because aPTT stands for activated partial thromboplastin time, which is a test that measures the intrinsic pathway of coagulation and the effect of heparin, an indirect thrombin inhibitor. aPTT can be used to monitor bivalirudin therapy, but it is less sensitive and specific than ECT.
ECT stands for ecarin clotting time, which is a test that measures the anticoagulant effect of bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor. Bivalirudin is used for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to prevent thrombotic complications. ECT is the most sensitive and specific test for monitoring bivalirudin therapy.
ECT. ECT stands for ecarin clotting time, which is a test that measures the anticoagulant effect of bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor. Bivalirudin is used for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to prevent thrombotic complications. ECT is the most sensitive and specific test for monitoring bivalirudin therapy.
Choice A is wrong because PT stands for prothrombin time, which is a test that measures the extrinsic pathway of coagulation and the effect of warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist. PT is not affected by bivalirudin.
Choice B is wrong because INR stands for international normalized ratio, which is a standardized way of reporting PT results and the effect of warfarin. INR is also not affected by bivalirudin.
Choice C is wrong because aPTT stands for activated partial thromboplastin time, which is a test that measures the intrinsic pathway of coagulation and the effect of heparin, an indirect thrombin inhibitor. aPTT can be used to monitor bivalirudin therapy, but it is less sensitive and specific than ECT.