BASILAR ARTERY RETHROMBOSIS - SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT WITH PLATELET GLYCOPROTEIN IIB IIIA RECEPTOR INHIBITOR/

We describe the use of abciximab to prevent rethrombosis of the basila r artery after transluminal angioplasty. A 60-year-old patient with ve rtebral basilar insufficiency and acute occlusion of the basilar arter y underwent revascularization with urokinase and angioplasty, Despite the repeated use of urokinase and angioplasty under anticoagulation wi th heparin, the basilar artery immediately rethrombosed. In a final at tempt to prevent rethrombosis, abciximab was administered before the f inal angioplasty, resulting in a widely patent basilar artery and no r ethrombosis.