Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Receptor Inhibitors in Coronary Artery Disease

Drugs that dissolve blood clots (thrombolytic agents) and drugs that prevent clot propagation (antiplatelet agents and anticoagulant agents) are used to treat a broad array of cardiovascular diseases. Platelets are a key component of all blood clots propagating within the arterial circulation and thus are an obvious therapeutic target in attempts to inhibit coronary artery thrombosis. However, despite evidence that clearly documents the beneficial effects of aspirin over placebo in acute coronary syndromes, many patients still “break through” aspirin [1, 2]. Ticlopidine, commonly used with aspirin in patients with intracoronary stents [3], has a beneficial profile similar to that of aspirin but also has a similar failure rate and a clinically significant associated incidence of leukopenia [4].

Investigators have recently identified an important role for therapy using a monoclonal antibody directed against the platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor [5]. In an attempt …