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Platelet Adhesion and Aggregation Under Flow using Microfluidic Flow Cells
10:10

Platelet Adhesion and Aggregation Under Flow using Microfluidic Flow Cells

Published on: October 27, 2009

Variability of platelet aggregate dispersal with glycoprotein IIb-IIIa antagonists eptifibatide and abciximab

H E Speich1, A D Earhart, S N Hill

  • 1Vascular Biology Center of Excellence, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.

Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis : JTH
|June 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Eptifibatide demonstrated superior ability to disaggregate platelet-rich thrombi compared to abciximab in vitro. This suggests factors like drug concentration and thrombus age are key for effective recanalization in acute coronary syndromes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Thrombosis Research

Background:

  • Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (GPIIb-IIIa) inhibitors improve outcomes in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  • These agents may work by destabilizing thrombi, reducing microembolization, and restoring vessel patency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the in vitro efficacy of GPIIb-IIIa antagonists, abciximab and eptifibatide, in promoting platelet-rich thrombus disaggregation.

Main Methods:

  • Assayed antagonist-induced disaggregation in plasma (aggregometry) and whole blood (point of care, capillary perfusion).
  • Quantified fibrinogen dissociation from platelets using flow cytometry.

Main Results:

  • Both eptifibatide and abciximab significantly disaggregated ADP-induced platelet aggregates.
  • Eptifibatide showed greater disaggregation extent and rate than abciximab for both ADP- and collagen-induced aggregates.
  • Eptifibatide effectively dispersed aged thrombi and reduced thrombus burden in a perfusion model, linked to greater fibrinogen displacement.

Conclusions:

  • Eptifibatide exhibits superior in vitro thrombus disaggregation compared to abciximab.
  • Drug concentration, residence time, thrombus extent, and age are critical for achieving timely recanalization.
Abstract

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