title: Early abciximab administration before primary percutaneous coronary intervention improves clinical outcome in elderly patients transferred with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: data from the EUROTRANSFER registry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited data are available concerning benefits and risks of early abciximab (EA) administration before primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in elderly ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of EA before PPCI in elderly (>or=65 years) patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 545 patients <65 years (354 with EA administration (>30 min before PPCI), 191 late abciximab (LA)), and 541 patients >or=65 years of age (373 EA, 168 LA) in the EUROTRANSFER Registry database. Elderly patients were more likely to have comorbidities, angiographic PCI complications, and bleeding events. EA promotes infarct-related artery patency before PPCI and improves myocardial reperfusion after PPCI in both age groups, but the risk of 30-day death (EA vs. LA: <65 years, 2.0% vs. 1.6%; p=0.999; >or=65 years, 5.9% vs. 14.3%; p=0.001) and 30-day death+reinfarction (EA vs. LA: <65 years, 2.5% vs. 2.1%; p=0.999; >or=65 years, 7.5% vs. 17.3%; p=0.001) was reduced in elderly patients only. There was no difference in bleedings, especially major bleedings requiring transfusion (EA vs. LA: patients <65 years, 2.3% vs. 0%, p=0.055; >or=65 years, 2.4% vs. 3%; p=0.448) between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients >or=65 years of age have a substantially increased risk of angiographic PCI complications, death and bleeding events compared with their younger counterparts. Strategy of EA before PPCI improves reperfusion parameters and clinical outcome in elderly patients and is not associated with elevated risk of major bleeding.
authors: 2nd Department of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors: Artur
authors: A
authors: Dziewierz
authors: Zbigniew
authors: Z
authors: Siudak
authors: Tomasz
authors: T
authors: Rakowski
authors: Michał
authors: M
authors: Chyrchel
authors: Waldemar
authors: W
authors: Mielecki
authors: Magnus
authors: M
authors: Janzon
authors: Ralf
authors: R
authors: Birkemeyer
authors: Ilkka
authors: I
authors: Tierala
authors: Roman M
authors: RM
authors: Wojdyła
authors: Jacek S
authors: JS
authors: Dubiel
authors: Dariusz
authors: D
authors: Dudek
mesh_terms: D000077284:Abciximab; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077284:Abciximab