Introduction and objectives: Abciximab has been shown to reduce the risk of thrombotic complications during coronary angioplasty, however there are still many aspects to be resolved. The aim of this study was to investigate the various biological effects of abciximab on platelets during coronary angioplasty.
Methods: The degree of platelet inhibition (with 5 and 20 mol/l concentrations of ADP), occlusion time (measurement of platelet haemostatic capacity, PFA-100), and the platelet activation markers were determined in 15 patients who underwent basal coronary angioplasty and abciximab treatment. Determinations were obtained before, 15 minutes after procedure initiation, at procedure termination, and 24 hours after procedure termination.
Results: More than 80% platelet aggregation inhibition was observed in 13 patients during the procedure, but after 24 hours (p < 0.05) was only detected in two. The occlusion time during the procedure was > 300 sec. in 13 patients, 6 of whom evolved to normal values after 24 hours (p < 0.05). A high correlation (p = 0.02) was found between these two parameters during the intervention, but not after 24 hours. No platelet inhibition or occlusion time changes were observed in 2 patients during the study. The expression of p-selectin increased significantly during the procedure (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The variability of platelet function inhibition and existence of circulating activation during coronary angioplasty following the administration of abciximab support the use of early analytical controls with the objective of modifying guidelines for use in order to optimize its effect or to combine it with other antithrombotic agents.