FOCUS ON EPTIFIBATIDE - GP IIB IIIA INHIBITOR REDUCES COMPLICATIONS OF ANGIOPLASTY, ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME/

Eptifibatide, an intravenous glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhib itor, prevents thrombotic complications of acute coronary syndromes by inhibiting platelet aggregation. Eptifibatide has been shown to signi ficantly decrease the combined incidence of 30-day mortality and new m yocardial infarction (MI) in the treatment of unstable angina and non- Q-wave MI. Eptifibatide only marginally reduced the incidence of ische mic complications in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty. Problem s with determining the optimal dose, however, may have Limited its eff icacy in some clinical trials. Although eptifibatide has not been dire ctly compared with abciximab, the first marketed GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor study results to date indicate that it is not more effective than abc iximab in preventing reocclusion after coronary angioplasty. Thus, ept ifibatide's primary role at this time may be in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes, such as unstable angina and non-Q-wave MI.