The BRAVE 4 trial did not show differences in the net clinical outcome between prasugrel/bivalirudin and clopidogrel/heparin treated STEMI patients

In this substudy inhibition of platelet aggregation using impedance aggregometry was more pronounced in prasugrel/bivalirudin compared to clopidogrel/heparin treated patients.

Furthermore platelet adhesion and aggregate formation under flow conditions in patients receiving prasugrel/bivalirudin was reduced compared to patients receiving clopidogrel/heparin

Thrombelastography does not seem to be a valuable method to study these drug combinations