Summary
For the patient undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, the administration of a platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blocker reduces the incidence of a periprocedural nonfatal myocardial infarction and the need for unplanned emergency stenting. In the diabetic patient undergoing intracoronary stenting, the use of a platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blocker appears to decrease the need for subsequent target vessel revascularization. There is considerable evidence in support of the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors in all categories of patients – “high-risk” patients, “low-risk” patients, and those undergoing primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction – and for the full armamentarium of percutaneous procedures (angioplasty, directional atherectomy, rotational atherectomy, and intracoronary stenting).
Key words
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa - PTCA - stent - platelets
