Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors

In medicine, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, also GpIIb/IIIa inhibitors, is a class of antiplatelet agents.

Additional recommended knowledge

Don't let static charges disrupt your weighing accuracy

Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Weighing the right way

Several GpIIb/IIIa inhibitors exist:

abciximab (ReoPro^®)
eptifibatide (Integrilin^®)
tirofiban (Aggrastat^®)

Use

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors are frequently used during percutaneous coronary interventions (angioplasty with or without intracoronary stent placement).

They work by preventing platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. They do so by inhibition of the GpIIb/IIIa receptor on the surface of the platelets.

They may also be used to treat acute coronary syndromes, without percutaneous coronary intervention, depending on TIMI risk.

They should be given intravenously. The oral form is associated with increased mortality and hence should not be given.

History

Their development arose from the understanding of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, a condition in which the GpIIb/IIIa is lacking.^[1]

References

^ Seligsohn U. Glanzmann thrombasthenia: a model disease which paved the way to powerful therapeutic agents. Pathophysiol Haemost Thromb. 2002 Sep-Dec;32(5-6):216-7. PMID 13679645. Free Full Text.

v • d • e Antithrombotics (thrombolytics, anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs) (B01)
Vitamin K antagonists	Acenocoumarol • Clorindione • Coumatetralyl • Dicumarol (Dicoumarol) • Diphenadione • Ethyl biscoumacetate • Phenprocoumon • Phenindione • Tioclomarol • Warfarin
Heparin group	Antithrombin III • Danaparoid • Heparin • Sulodexide • low molecular weight heparin (Bemiparin, Dalteparin, Enoxaparin, Nadroparin, Parnaparin, Reviparin, Tinzaparin)
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors	Abciximab • Eptifibatide • Tirofiban
Other platelet aggregation inhibitors	Acetylsalicylic acid/Aspirin • Aloxiprin • Ditazole • Carbasalate calcium • Cloricromen • Dipyridamole • Indobufen • Picotamide • Triflusal • ADP receptor inhibitors (Clopidogrel, Ticlopidine, Prasugrel) • prostaglandin analogue (Beraprost, Prostacyclin, Iloprost, Treprostinil)
Enzymes	plasminogen activators (Alteplase/Reteplase/Tenecteplase, Streptokinase, Urokinase/Saruplase, Anistreplase) • other serine endopeptidases (Ancrod, Drotrecogin alfa/Protein C, Fibrinolysin) • Brinase
Direct thrombin inhibitors	Argatroban • Bivalirudin • Dabigatran • Desirudin • Hirudin • Lepirudin • Melagatran • Ximelagatran
Other antithrombotics	Defibrotide • Dermatan sulfate • Fondaparinux • Rivaroxaban
Non-medicinal	Citrate • EDTA • Oxalate