Usefulness of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in coronary stenting for reconstruction of complex lesions: procedural and 30 day outcome.
BACKGROUND
Intracoronary stent implantation during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has shown favorable results, reducing acute complications associated with PTCA, such as coronary artery dissection and abrupt or threatened vessel closure. However, treatment of lesions with a complex morphology and diffuse disease, requiring long or multiple coronary stents, is still associated with a poorer outcome. We investigated the hypothesis that abciximab might lead to a different outcome in patients with complex coronary lesions, which require long or multiple stent implantation.


METHODS
One hundred and six patients were randomized to receive either a combination of abciximab (bolus and 12 hour infusion) and weight-adjusted low-dose heparin or weight-adjusted heparin alone and followed up to 30 days.


RESULTS
The procedural success rate was 100% in both groups of patients. In the control group a composite rate of major adverse events such as any death irrespective of cause, Q wave or non-Q wave myocardial infarction, acute or subacute stent thrombosis and urgent revascularization of 15.3% was shown at 30-day follow-up. The use of abciximab reduced the composite adverse event rate to 3.7% (76% absolute reduction, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of abciximab during high risk stenting is safe and reduces the risk of cardiac events at 30-day follow-up as compared to standard treatment with heparin. A longer follow-up period is warranted to confirm the beneficial effects observed at 30 days with abciximab in this setting.
Galassi
A R
AR
Istituto di Cardiologia, Università degli Studi, Catania. segcardi@mbox.unict.it
Russo
G
G
Nicosia
A
A
Tamburino
C
C
Foti
R
R
Rodi
G
G
Calvi
V
V
Gulizia
G
G
Distefano
G
G
Moshiri
S
S
Giuffrida
G
G
D000077284:Abciximab; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D000077284:Abciximab