title: Use of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in cardiovascular medicine.
abstract: The GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors were the first clinically used anti-integrin therapeutics. They opened the gate to a rapidly developing area of anti-integrin targeting as a therapeutic approach to many diseases. The use of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in interventional cardiology is widespread and still increasing, as is the number of percutaneous coronary interventions. There seems to be a class effect of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in percutaneous coronary intervention, but there are major differences in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of these agents. Currently clinically approved for parenteral use are the Fab fragment abciximab (ReoPro, Lilly) and the small-molecule GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors eptifibatide (Integrilin, Millennium/Schering-Plough) and tirofiban (Aggrastat, Merck). This review focuses on the different pharmacological properties of these agents and summarizes present and future therapeutic use of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors in cardiovascular and other vascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University of Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.forename: Karlheinz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bode
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex