Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists

SummaryThe role of GP IIb/IIIa antagonists has been focused on patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing PCI. In the ISAR-REACT 2 study abciximab given in patients with NSTEACS undergoing PCI already treated with 600 mg clopidogrel improved 30-day death and reinfarction rate in troponin positive patients. In the large EARLY-ACS trial upstream therapy with eptifibatide in high risk with NSTE-ACS did not improve ischaemic complications but was associated with an increase in bleeding complications. Therefore GP IIb/IIIa antagonists should be given after the initial angiography and the decision the perform P…