GP IIb/IIIa antagonists. Clinical experience and potential uses in cardiology

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N S Kleiman1

  • 1Department of Medicine, Bayer College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center, Houston, USA. nkleiman@bcm.tmc.edu

Drugs in R&D
|November 24, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists reduce ischemic events in acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous coronary interventions. This review covers abciximab, tirofiban, and eptifibatide, detailing their pharmacology and clinical trial outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Platelet aggregation, mediated by glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa, is central to acute coronary syndromes and periprocedural complications after coronary interventions.
  • GP IIb/IIIa antagonists target this pathway by inhibiting fibrinogen binding to activated platelets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review available antagonists of platelet GP IIb/IIIa.
  • To discuss their role in managing ischemic heart disease.

Main Methods:

  • Review of pharmacological characteristics of abciximab, tirofiban, and eptifibatide.
  • Analysis of clinical trials evaluating these agents in ischemic heart disease.

Main Results:

  • Inhibition of GP IIb/IIIa reduces ischemic complications in coronary interventions.
  • These agents decrease rates of death and myocardial infarction in acute coronary syndromes.

Conclusions:

  • GP IIb/IIIa antagonists are effective in reducing ischemic complications.
  • Differential pharmacological profiles exist among abciximab, tirofiban, and eptifibatide.

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