Tirofiban and eptifibatide treatment of patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome with non-ST segment elevation.
OBJECTIVE
This retrospective study was conducted to determine the usage patterns and tolerability of tirofiban and eptifibatide during the first year of their use.


METHODS
We have assessed the appropriate use of these drugs according to the criteria implemented by the Clinical Institute of Cardiovascular Disease as part of a protocol for treating acute coronary syndrome with non-ST segment elevation.


RESULTS
37 patients received tirofiban and 19 patients received eptifibatide. These patients were at high risk of poor outcomes such as myocardial infarction or death. Tirofiban and eptifibatide were used according to the indication criteria: only one case fell outside them. Dosing, time for drug initiation (from last chest pain) and time of infusion were considered appropriate. Tirofiban was involved in two cases of minor bleeding complications and eptifibatide in one case of thrombocytopenia (80,000 platelets per millimeter). These mild adverse drug reactions were reversible with the early withdrawal of the drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that tirofiban and eptifibatide have been used optimally, with a close adherence to the pre-established protocol. Both drugs have shown a good level of tolerability.
Corominas
Nuria
N
Clinical Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Hospital Clinic, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. ncoromin@clinic.ub.es
Perez
Joaquin
J
Ortiz
Jose
J
Ferrer
Elena
E
Ribas
Josep
J
Sanz
Gines
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D004562:Electrocardiography; D000077542:Eptifibatide; D005260:Female; D005572:Formularies, Hospital as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077466:Tirofiban; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015415:Biomarkers; D010455:Peptides; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D014443:Tyrosine; D000077466:Tirofiban; D000077542:Eptifibatide