Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade with coronary stent placement.

GP IIb/IIIa blockade for stenting offers almost complete inhibition of platelet aggregation and can bridge the delayed onset of action of ticlopidine. In the EPISTENT trial, GP IIb/IIIa blockade with abciximab reduced the 30-day cardiac event rate after stenting by more than 50% compared to placebo. Economic constraints may demand to restrict the use of GP IIb/IIIa blockade to subgroups that benefit most. Bail-out stenting constitutes one of these subgroups. Another group are patients with acute myocardial infarction. Moreover, the exquisitely high risk of residual dissection after stenting suggests to always employ GP IIb/IIIa blockade in this instance.