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Updated: May 31, 2026

Microfluidics in Assessing Platelet Function
Published on: November 8, 2024
Profound thrombocytopenia after primary exposure to eptifibatide
Nicholas B Norgard1, Brian T Badgley
1University at Buffalo, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, USA.
Abstract:
Eptifibatide is a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist used to reduce the incidence of ischemic events in patients with acute coronary syndromes and those undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. A minority of patients given eptifibatide develop acute, profound thrombocytopenia (<20,000 cells/mm(3)) within a few hours of receiving the drug. This case report discusses a patient who developed profound thrombocytopenia within hours of receiving eptifibatide for the first time. The Naranjo algorithm classified the likelihood that this patient's thrombocytopenia was related to eptifibatide as probable. Profound thrombocytopenia is an uncommon but clinically important complication of eptifibatide. This case report emphasizes the importance of monitoring platelet counts routinely at baseline and within 2-6 hours of eptifibatide administration.
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