title: Inflammation as a therapeutic target: a unique role for abciximab.
abstract: Vascular inflammation is a central pathogenic mechanism for both acute coronary syndromes and the vascular response to injury after percutaneous coronary intervention. The magnitude of vascular inflammation has been correlated with adverse late clinical outcomes (death, myocardial infarction, recurrent ischemia, restenosis). Vascular inflammation is also increased in patients with diabetes mellitus. Many adjunctive pharmacotherapies used in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes or during percutaneous coronary intervention have anti-inflammatory effects, which are distinct from their perceived primary mechanism of action. Data in support of the anti-inflammatory effects of abciximab are presented and the role that these effects may play in modulating atherosclerotic plaque stability and late clinical outcomes is discussed. Vascular inflammation represents the "final common pathway" for many disease processes and thus represents the "ultimate therapeutic target" for pharmacologic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University, The Lindner Center for Research and Education, and The Ohio Heart Health Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219, USA. lindner@fuse.net
authors.forename: Dean J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kereiakes
mesh_terms: D000077284:Abciximab; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013577:Syndrome; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000077284:Abciximab