title: Eptifibatide-induced acute profound thrombocytopenia: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The interactions among cells or among cells and components of the extracellular matrix, is a crucial pathophysiological process involving some molecules collectively known as adhesion molecules (CAMs). Glycoprotein IIb / IIIa receptors are only restricted to blood platelets and they bind fibrinogen and adhesion proteins such as fibronectin, vitronectin, von Willebrand factor to form cross bridges between adjacent platelets. IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists are an object of intense research activity for target therapy worldwide during the last decades. Three GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors, abciximab, tirofiban, and eptifibatide, have been approved for clinical use. Profound thrombocytopenia is an uncommon but clinically important complication of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case report discusses a forty-four-year-old male patient with acute coronary syndrome who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and developed profound thrombocytopenia within 4 hours of first administration of eptifibatide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report adds another case of eptifibatide-induced thrombocytopenia to the medical literature and endorses the importance of platelet count monitoring after initiating therapy with this agent.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Graidis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Golias
authors.forename: Dimokritos
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dimitriadis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dimitriadis
authors.forename: Theodosis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bitsis
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dimitrelos
authors.forename: Afroditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsiakou
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Clinical Unit, Medical Faculty, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis 68100, GR, Greece. kcharal@med.duth.gr.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Charalabopoulos
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000077542:Eptifibatide; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010976:Platelet Count; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D000077542:Eptifibatide