The influence of abciximab use on clinical outcome after aortocoronary vein graft interventions

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of abcixima b use on clinical outcome in aortocoronary vein graft interventions. BACKGROUND Although large randomized trials have demonstrated a significant benefit of abciximab use in the setting of percutaneous coronary intervent ions, there is relatively little data with respect to the use of this agent in percutaneous vein graft interventions. METHODS Three hundred and forty-three patients were identified; 210 undergo ing vein graft intervention without abciximab and 133 patients with abcixim ab. RESULTS There were differences in baseline clinical and angiographic charac teristics between the two groups; advanced age, unstable angina, older vein grafts and thrombus containing lesions were relatively common in both grou ps. Angiographic and procedural success rates were similar with or without the use of abciximab (89% vs. 92%, p = 0.15, and 85% vs. 91%, p = 0.12, res pectively). The in-hospital composite end point of death/Q-wave myocardial infarction (QWMI)/repeat revascularization was similar between the two grou ps. Utilizing statistical modeling to adjust for baseline differences betwe en the groups, abciximab use did not influence the cumulative long-term com posite end point of death/MI/repeat revascularization. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that in this relatively high-risk popul ation undergoing aortocoronary vein graft interventions, the administration of abciximab periprocedurally does not appear to reduce major adverse clin ical events. (J Am Coll Cardiol 1999;34:1163-9) (C) 1999 by the American Co llege of Cardiology.