title: Bleeding complications with platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists.
abstract: Platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists are being used with increasing frequency in the settings of percutaneous coronary interventions and acute ischemic syndromes. The development of bleeding complications following GPIIb/IIIa blockade represents a significant limitation to its effectiveness. Baseline characteristics predictive of future bleeding events in patients receiving platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptor antagonist include older age, low body weight, evolving myocardial infarction, and female sex. In patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions with adjunctive GPIIb/IIIa inhibition, the risk of bleeding, particularly from the femoral vascular access site, may be reduced through the use of low-dose, weight-adjusted heparin (70 U/kg), avoidance of postprocedural heparin, and early vascular sheath removal. Strategies to reduce the incidence of bleeding complications in patients receiving GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors are proposed in this article.
authors.affiliation: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, North Carolina 27715, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madan
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Blankenship
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
mesh_terms: D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex