[Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist eptifibatide in acute coronary syndrome without elevation of ST segment]

Clinical effects of glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa antagonist eptifibatide (Integrilin) and its inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation were studied upon administration of eptifibatide for the treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without ST segment elevation. Eptifibatide was introduced to 25 patients with unstable angina and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI) according to the following scheme: two boluses with 10 min interval at the dose of 180 mg/kg followed by supporting infusion of 2 mg/kg per min for the first 24 hours and of 1.3 mg/kg for the next 48 hours. Comparative group in which GP IIb-IIIa antagonists were not used upon therapeutic treatment also included 25 patients. All patients received standard basic therapy. 11 patients from the control group and 13 patients from the group with administration of eptifibatide underwent coronary angioplasty during in hospital period. Eptifibatide completely inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation within the whole infusion period but after that platelet aggregating activity was quickly recovered--for more than 50% within 6 hours, and completely within 12 hours after the end of infusion. Eptifibatide administration in none of patients was accompanied with the development of dangerous side effects. Thrombocytopenia (50,000 platelets per mm3) was registered in one, and minor bleeding events--in 3 patients. The rate of unfavourable outcomes (MI, refractory or recurrent angina) within first 30 days was almost the same in eptifibatide and control group--32% (8 out of 25) and 36% (9 out of 25) respectively. Thus, despite the complete inhibition of platelet aggregation for 72 hours, eptifibatide administration failed to decrease the amount of adverse events upon treatment of patients with ACS without ST segment elevation.