Evidence for prevention of death and myocardial infarction with platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade by abciximab (c7E3 Fab) among patients with unstable angina undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization. EPIC Investigators. Evaluation of 7E3 in Preventing Ischemic Complications.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate whether patients with unstable angina undergoing coronary intervention derive particular clinical benefit from potent platelet inhibition.


BACKGROUND
Plaque rupture and platelet aggregation are pathogenetic processes common to unstable angina and ischemic complications of percutaneous coronary intervention.


METHODS
Of the 2,099 patients undergoing a coronary intervention in the Evaluation of 7E3 in Preventing Ischemic Complications (EPIC) trial, 489 were enrolled with the diagnosis of unstable angina and randomized to receive placebo, an abciximab (c7E3) bolus immediately before the intervention or an abciximab bolus followed by a 12-h infusion. The primary end point was a composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI) or urgent repeat revascularization within 30 days of randomization. The occurrence of death, MI or any revascularization within 6 months was also assessed.


RESULTS
Compared with placebo, the bolus and infusion of abciximab resulted in a 62% reduction in the rate of the primary end point (12.8% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.012) among patients with unstable angina, due primarily to a reduction in the incidences of death (3.2% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.164) and MI (9% vs. 1.8%, p = 0.004). By 6 months, cumulative death and MI were further reduced by abciximab (6.6% vs. 1.8%, p = 0.018 and 11.1% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.002, respectively). The magnitude of the risk reduction with abciximab was greater among the patients with unstable angina than among other patients in the EPIC trial without unstable angina for the end points of death (interaction: p = 0.008 at 30 days, p = 0.002 at 6 months) and MI (interaction: p = 0.004 at 30 days, p = 0.003 at 6 months).


CONCLUSIONS
The syndrome of unstable angina identifies patients who will experience particularly marked reductions in the risk of death and MI with abciximab during coronary intervention.
Lincoff
A M
AM
Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
Califf
R M
RM
Anderson
K M
KM
Weisman
H F
HF
Aguirre
F V
FV
Kleiman
N S
NS
Harrington
R A
RA
Topol
E J
EJ
D000077284:Abciximab; D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000187:drug effects*; D012306:Risk; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D000077284:Abciximab