title: Role of abciximab in the treatment of coronary artery disease.
abstract: Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex is a crucial membrane receptor for platelet aggregation, binding platelets to fibrinogen and establishing interplatelet bridges. This receptor is the common end point of the multiple activation pathways of a platelet. Antiplatelet agents, such as aspirin or thienopyridines, including ticlopidine and clopidogrel, inhibit one or more but not all, of these pathways. Inhibitors of the receptor are powerful platelet antiaggregants and include two groups of agents: non-competitive receptor blockers, such as abciximab, and competitive antagonists, such as tirofiban and eptifibatide. Abciximab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex, thus blocking the interaction with fibrinogen. It is used for treatment of coronary artery disease, being well-studied in the setting of acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous coronary intervention, in which a rapid and effective antiaggregation is clinically important.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Cardiologia de Intervenção Joaquim Oliveira, Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santa Maria, Avenida Egas Moniz, 1649-035 Lisboa, Portugal. hmgabriel@netcabo.pt
authors.forename: H Mesquita
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: Eduardo Infante
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000077284:Abciximab; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000075202:Contraindications; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C087896:reteplase; D013300:Streptokinase; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D000077284:Abciximab