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Abciximab is rapidly effective in preventing and arresting established platelet aggregation
Miles C Dalby1, Simon J Davidson, John F Burman
1Department of Cardiology, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, London, UK.
Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis
|October 2, 2002
Summary
Abciximab rapidly inhibits platelet aggregation, even when administered during angioplasty procedures. This study demonstrates abciximab
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular research
- Pharmacology
- Hematology
Background:
- Abciximab is utilized to mitigate thrombotic complications during angioplasty.
- Its role as a 'bail out' treatment for angioplasty-induced thrombus is established, but its speed of action requires elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the speed at which abciximab inhibits platelet aggregation.
- To explain the rapid efficacy of abciximab in clinical settings.
Main Methods:
- Blood from 10 healthy volunteers was analyzed using optical aggregometry (OA) and whole blood electrical impedance platelet aggregometry (WBEA).
- Abciximab (5 microg/ml) was introduced 5 minutes before agonist, 10 seconds before agonist, and during aggregation, with saline controls.
Main Results:
- Abciximab completely inhibited platelet aggregation when administered 5 minutes prior to agonist stimulation (OA: 0% vs. 71%; WBEA: 0 omega vs. 7.5 omega).
- When given 10 seconds before agonist, abciximab caused rapid reversal of initial aggregation (OA: 16.5% at 2 mins) and complete inhibition (WBEA: 0 omega).
- Administration during aggregation rapidly arrested the process (OA: 1.5 mins arrest; WBEA: 1.5 mins arrest), preventing further platelet clumping.
Conclusions:
- Abciximab demonstrates rapid inhibition of platelet aggregation in quiescent and activated states.
- These findings support the rapid efficacy of abciximab when administered during procedures complicated by thrombus formation.