Economic assessment of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade with abciximab and low-dose heparin during percutaneous coronary revascularization: results from the EPILOG randomized trial. Evaluation in PTCA to Improve Long-term Outcome with abciximab GP IIb/IIIa blockade.

BACKGROUND: In the EPILOG trial (Evaluation in PTCA to Improve Long-term Outcome with abciximab GP IIb/IIIa blockade), abciximab administered with weight-adjusted heparin diminished the risk of ischemic complications within 30 days by 56% among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization, without increased bleeding complications. METHODS AND RESULTS: A prospective economic assessment was performed in the 2792 patients enrolled in EPILOG. Patients were randomized to receive placebo with standard-dose weight-adjusted heparin, abciximab with low-dose weight-adjusted heparin, or abciximab with standard-dose weight-adjusted heparin during percutaneous coronary intervention. Hospital billing data for the baseline hospitalization were collected for 2581 patients (92.4% of total) and imputed for the remainder, with physician fees estimated from the Medicare Fee Schedule. For the baseline hospitalization, medical costs (hospitalization and physician fees) averaged $9632 for the placebo arm compared with $8758 (P:=0.005) and $9092 (P:=0.176) for the abciximab with low-dose and standard-dose heparin arms, respectively. Inclusive of average drug cost ($1454 to $1457), the net incremental baseline cost of these 2 abciximab strategies was $583 with low-dose weight-adjusted heparin and $914 with standard-dose weight-adjusted heparin. During 6-month follow-up, average hospital costs were not significantly different in the 3 treatment groups; cumulative net incremental costs were $1236 and $1268 in the abciximab with low-dose and standard-dose heparin groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with abciximab and low-dose, weight-adjusted heparin during percutaneous coronary revascularization reduces ischemic events and associated costs, thereby offsetting some of the cost of the drug. The suppression of bleeding complications associated with this agent by heparin dose reduction optimizes the economic attractiveness of this treatment strategy.

Sustained suppression of ischemic complications of coronary intervention by platelet GP IIb/IIIa blockade with abciximab: one-year outcome in the EPILOG trial. Evaluation in PTCA to Improve Long-term Outcome with abciximab GP IIb/IIIa blockade.

BACKGROUND: Blockade of the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor with the monoclonal antibody fragment abciximab was shown in a placebo-controlled randomized trial to reduce the incidence of acute ischemic complications within 30 days among a broad spectrum of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization. The durability of clinical benefit in this setting has not been established. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 2792 patients enrolled in the Evaluation in PTCA to Improve Long-term Outcome with abciximab GP IIb/IIIa blockade (EPILOG) trial were followed with maintenance of double-blinding for 1 year. Patients had been assigned at the time of their index coronary interventional procedure to receive placebo with standard-dose, weight-adjusted heparin (100 U/kg initial bolus), abciximab with standard-dose, weight-adjusted heparin, or abciximab with low-dose, weight-adjusted heparin (70 U/kg initial bolus). The primary outcome was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, or urgent repeat revascularization by 30 days; this composite end point and its individual components were also assessed at 6 months and 1 year. Rates of any repeat revascularization (urgent or elective), target vessel revascularization, and a composite of death, myocardial infarction, or any repeat revascularization were also reported. Follow-up at 1 year was 99% complete for survival status and 97% complete for other end points. By 1 year, the incidence of the primary composite end point was 16.1% in the placebo group, 9.6% in the abciximab with low-dose heparin group (P<0.001), and 9.5% in the abciximab with standard-dose heparin group (P<0.001). Each of the components of this composite end point was reduced to a similar extent. Nonurgent or target vessel repeat revascularization rates were not significantly decreased by abciximab therapy. Mortality rates over 1 year increased with increasing levels of periprocedural creatine kinase MB fraction elevation. CONCLUSIONS: Acute reductions in ischemic events after percutaneous coronary intervention by abciximab are sustained over follow-up to at least 1 year. Early periprocedural myocardial infarctions suppressed by this therapy are associated with long-term mortality rates.

Occurrence and clinical significance of pseudothrombocytopenia during abciximab therapy.

OBJECTIVES: This study determined the incidence of pseudothrombocytopenia during abciximab therapy administered for percutaneous coronary interventions and compared the clinical course of patients with pseudothrombocytopenia with the clinical courses of patients with thrombocytopenia and patients with normal platelet counts. BACKGROUND: Although pseudothrombocytopenia has been previously reported during therapy with abciximab, the incidence and significance of this occurrence are unknown. The failure to differentiate pseudothrombocytopenia from thrombocytopenia could lead to unnecessary interruption of abciximab infusions or to platelet transfusions. METHODS: The incidences of pseudothrombocytopenia and thrombocytopenia were determined in four large placebo-controlled abciximab trials: c7E3 Fab Antiplatelet Therapy in Unstable Refractory Angina (CAPTURE), Evaluation of 7E3 for the Prevention of Ischemic Complications (EPIC), Evaluation of Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty to Improve Long-term Outcome of c7E3 GpIIb/IIIa Receptor Blockade (EPILOG) and Evaluation of Platelet IIb/IIIa Inhibitor for Stenting (EPISTENT). The clinical features, bleeding complications and major clinical outcomes of patients with pseudothrombocytopenia and those with thrombocytopenia were compared with each other and with those of patients with normal platelet count. RESULTS: Pseudothrombocytopenia occurred in 2.1% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.7%, 2.5%) of abciximab-treated patients and in 0.6% of placebo-treated patients (p < 0.001). Thrombocytopenia occurred in 3.7% (95% CI: 3.2%, 4.2%) of abciximab-treated patients and in 1.8% (95% CI: 1.3%, 2.3%) of placebo-treated patients (p < 0.001). Patients with thrombocytopenia had significantly higher rates of major bleeding, major decreases in hemoglobin and increased transfusion requirements of both blood and platelets compared with those without thrombocytopenia. By contrast, pseudothrombocytopenic patients did not differ from patients with normal platelet counts in any of the measures of blood loss or transfusion requirements. Thrombocytopenic patients, but not those with pseudothrombocytopenia, had increased rates of revascularization at 30 days and six months. As previously reported, there was also a higher rate of death and myocardial infarction in the thrombocytopenic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudothrombocytopenia is the cause of more than one third (36.3%) of low platelet counts in patients undergoing coronary interventions who are treated with abciximab. This study demonstrates that pseudothrombocytopenia is a benign laboratory condition that does not increase bleeding, stroke, transfusion requirements or the need for repeat revascularization. It is important to recognize pseudothrombocytopenia so that the beneficial effects of abciximab are not lost by premature termination of therapy.

Standard versus low-dose weight-adjusted heparin in patients treated with the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antibody fragment abciximab (c7E3 Fab) during percutaneous coronary revascularization. PROLOG Investigators.

Blockade of the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor by abciximab (c7E3 Fab) during coronary intervention reduces the incidence of ischemic complications, but has been associated with a doubling of the risk for bleeding complications. The present pilot study investigated whether modification of heparin dosing and/or early sheath removal would reduce the hemorrhagic complications associated with abciximab. One hundred three patients undergoing coronary intervention received abciximab (0.25 mg/kg bolus, 10 microg/min infusion for 12 hours) and aspirin and were randomized by a 2 x 2 factorial design to 1 of 2 weight-adjusted heparin doses and to 1 of 2 strategies for heparin discontinuation and vascular sheath removal. In the "standard-dose heparin" group, an initial bolus of 100 U/kg was administered to achieve a procedural activated clotting time (ACT) > or = 300 seconds; in the "low-dose heparin" group, an initial bolus of 70 U/kg was administered without adjustment for ACT. In the "late sheath removal" arm, heparin infusion was continued for the 12-hour duration of abciximab infusion, followed by sheath removal; in the "early sheath removal" group, heparin was stopped after the interventional procedure and sheaths were removed during the abciximab infusion. There were no apparent differences between patients randomized to the different treatment groups with regard to the occurrence of ischemic end points. Rates of bleeding and blood transfusion were reduced by low-dose heparin and early sheath removal and were lowest when both strategies were combined. Reduction and weight adjustment of heparin dose and early sheath removal in the setting of platelet inhibition with abciximab during coronary intervention may be useful in diminishing the incidence of hemorrhagic complications without loss of clinical efficacy.

Abciximab and bleeding during coronary surgery: results from the EPILOG and EPISTENT trials. Improve Long-term Outcome with abciximab GP IIb/IIIa blockade. Evaluation of Platelet IIb/IIIa Inhibition in STENTing.

BACKGROUND: Abciximab during percutaneous coronary revascularization reduces ischemic complications, but concern exists regarding increased bleeding risk should emergency coronary surgical procedures be required. METHODS: Outcomes were assessed among 85 patients who required coronary artery bypass grafting operations after coronary intervention in two randomized placebo-controlled trials of abciximab. Comparisons were made between patients in the pooled placebo and abciximab groups. RESULTS: The incidence of coronary surgical procedures was 2.17% and 1.28% among patients randomized to placebo and abciximab, respectively (p = 0.021). Platelet transfusions were administered to 32% and 52% of patients in the placebo and abciximab groups, respectively (p = 0.059). Rates of major blood loss were 79% and 88% in the placebo and abciximab groups, respectively (p = 0.27); transfusions of packed red blood cells or whole blood were administered in 74% and 80% of patients, respectively (p = 0.53). Surgical reexploration for bleeding was required in 3% and 12% of patients, respectively. Death and myocardial infarction tended to occur less frequently among patients who had received abciximab. CONCLUSIONS: Urgent coronary artery bypass grafting operations can be performed without an incremental increase in major hemorrhagic risk among patients on abciximab therapy.

Effects of metoprolol, alone and in combination with lidocaine, on ventricular fibrillation threshold: comparison with atenolol, propranolol, and pindolol.

Metoprolol and other beta-adrenergic blocking drugs are known to exert cardioprotective effects that include significant reduction in occurrence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) following myocardial ischemia and infarction. To help determine the mechanism of these cardioprotective effects, this study evaluated the effect of equipotent beta-blocking doses of metoprolol and three other beta-blockers with differing ancillary properties on ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) in the normal canine heart. Metoprolol tartrate (1.0 mg/kg i.v.), atenolol (0.3 mg/kg i.v.), propranolol hydrochloride (0.3 mg/kg i.v.), pindolol (0.03 mg/kg i.v.), or saline control (0.9% NaCl solution; vehicle) was given, alone and in combination with lidocaine (L), to groups of six pentobarbital (32.5 mg/kg i.v.) anesthetized mongrel dogs after control VFT and control isoproterenol-induced (ISO) positive chronotropic effects had been determined. The D- (membrane stabilizing, non-beta blocking) and L- (beta blocking) isomers of propranolol also were administered to separate groups of six anesthetized dogs in a dose of 0.3 mg/kg i.v. Blood samples (venous) were taken before drug or vehicle administration, 10 min after drug/vehicle administration and at half-hour intervals thereafter during experimentation. ISO responses and VFT were determined 5 and 15 min, respectively, after drug/vehicle administration and at half-hour intervals for a total experimental period of 165 min. VF was induced with a train of pulses (5 s, 100 Hz, 3-ms duration, 250-omega resistance) applied by bipolar platinum electrodes to a paced heart (200 beats/min). Voltage (V) was increased every 60 sec (0.25-V increments between 0-3.5 V and 0.5-V increments greater than 3.5 V) until VF occurred. Metoprolol increased VFT significantly (p less than 0.05) and maximally (max delta V = 2.3 +/- 0.7 V) at 135 min postdrug when the ISO-induced increase in heart rate was inhibited (%I ISO) by less than 53%. Max delta V was not significantly increased following i.v. administration of atenolol (0.8 +/- 0.6 V), pindolol (0.1 +/- 0.1 V), or saline (0.1 +/- 0.1 V). Max delta V was 0.5 +/- 0.2 in the D-propranolol-treated group and 0.5 +/- 0.3 in the L-propranolol-treated group. These values did not differ from max delta V obtained in the propranolol-treated group (0.6 +/- 0.4 V). Changes in VFT for all groups were, over time, negatively correlated with %I ISO and were not dependent on membrane stabilizing effect (metoprolol, propranolol (D,DL), pindolol), intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (pindolol), or cardioselectivity (metoprolol, atenolol).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Comparison of two radionuclide techniques for detecting disease of right and left coronary arteries.

Radionuclide angiography and thallium-201 myocardial perfusion scintigraphy were compared in 31 patients with coronary artery disease studied at rest and during exercise. Seventeen of the 31 patients had perfusion defects on thallium-201 redistribution scans (61%); 16 of these had prior transmural infarction. Six other patients with prior inferior infarction had no defects on thallium-201 redistribution scans. During treadmill exercise, 28 of 31 patients (90%) developed new or larger thallium-201 perfusion defects, a significantly higher percentage of patients than those that developed ST segment abnormalities during exercise (74%). During bicycle exercise left ventricular ejection fraction decreased in 27 of the 31 patients (87%); the average change in left ventricular ejection fraction was from 54 +/- 16+ to 48 +/- 14% (p less than 0.1). Twenty-three of the 31 patients had abnormalities of regional ejection fraction at rest (74%), while 30 of the 31 had abnormalities during exercise (97%). The number of patients who developed new regional ejection fraction abnormalities during exercise (28 of 31) was not significantly different from the number of patients who developed new or larger thallium-201 myocardial perfusion defects during exercise. In order to compare the two radionuclide techniques with respect to identification of vessel involvement, the patients were separated into those with disease of the right coronary system, disease of the left coronary system, or both. Thallium-201 scintigraphy correctly identified ten of 14 patients with involvement of only the right or left system; radionuclide angiography correctly identified six of 14. However, radionuclide angiography identified more patients with right and left system involvement (15/17) than did thallium-201 scintigraphy (6/17), p less than .01. These data suggest radionuclide angiography is more useful for identifying patients with disease of both the right and left coronary arteries.

Recombinant hirudin in patients with chronic, stable coronary artery disease. Safety, half-life, and effect on coagulation parameters.

BACKGROUND: Because the specific antithrombin hirudin prevents platelet-rich arterial thrombus and accelerates thrombolysis in a variety of animal models, it has promise as antithrombotic therapy. We therefore studied the half-life, effect on anticoagulant parameters, and safety of hirudin in patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-eight men and 1 woman (age [mean +/- SD], 60.4 +/- 6.9 years) with angiographic coronary disease were allocated in a single-blind ascending dosage study to a 6-hour i.v. infusion of recombinant hirudin (CGP 39,393) or matching placebo. The median terminal half-life for hirudin, measured by ELISA, was 2.7, 2.3, 2.9, 3.1, and 2.0 hours for the 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg.kg-1 x h-1 groups, respectively. Activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTT) at 3, 4, and 6 hours were averaged into a plateau value. The aPTT plateau-to-baseline ratios were 1.5 +/- 0.1, 2.0 +/- 0.1, 2.3 +/- 0.1, 2.7 +/- 0.1, and 2.9 +/- 0.1, respectively, with hirudin infused at 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg.kg-1 x h-1. From 62% to 77% of the aPTT plateau value was seen within 30 minutes of starting the infusions and was directly related to dose. The aPTT-to-baseline ratios correlated well with plasma hirudin levels (r = .88), whereas poor correlation and sensitivity were observed between plasma hirudin levels and activated coagulation time (ACT)-to-baseline ratios (r = .44). Plasma levels of hirudin and ACT in seconds correlated overall well (r = .80), but considerable overlap occurred between baseline ACT and ACT at plasma hirudin concentrations < 1000 ng/mL. Prothrombin times were significantly prolonged only at a dosage of > or = 0.05 mg.kg-1 x h-1 and were 11.8 +/- 0.5 (INR = 1.0), 12.3 +/- 0.7 (INR = 1.1), 13.3 +/- 1.2 (INR = 1.4), 14.2 +/- 0.4 (INR = 1.7), and 15.8 +/- 0.9 (INR = 2.3) seconds for each respective hirudin dosage. Thrombin times were beyond range (> 600 seconds) at 6 hours in all except 2 patients who received the lowest dosage. All parameters returned to baseline between 8 and 18 hours after the infusion. Bleeding times were not significantly prolonged. No side effects occurred. No antibodies to hirudin were detected 2 weeks after the infusion. CONCLUSIONS: Recombinant hirudin has a terminal half-life of 2 to 3 hours. The aPTT correlates well with plasma levels of hirudin and allows close titration over a wide range of anticoagulation, while ACT and prothrombin time are relatively insensitive for monitoring hirudin administration. At anticoagulant levels effective in experimental thrombosis, a 6-hour infusion of hirudin is well tolerated and safe in a predominantly male group of patients with stable coronary atherosclerosis.

Abciximab therapy and unplanned coronary stent deployment: favorable effects on stent use, clinical outcomes, and bleeding complications. EPILOG Trial Investigators.

BACKGROUND: The clinical and angiographic demographics of patients requiring unplanned coronary stent deployment and the optimal adjunct pharmacotherapy in this population are not well described. This report details the EPILOG trial experience with unplanned coronary stent deployment and the effect of abciximab platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockade to improve clinical outcomes during 6 months of follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: After randomization in the EPILOG double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of abciximab therapy during percutaneous coronary intervention, 326 (12%) of 2792 patients required unplanned coronary stent deployment. Although stented patients were not distinguished by clinical variables, they had greater coronary lesion complexity by American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology criteria (P=.003) and greater incidence of lesion length >10 mm (P=.002), lesion eccentricity (P=.027), irregular lesion contour (P=.001), and bifurcation involvement (P=.019) than nonstented patients. Unplanned stents were required less often in patients treated with abciximab and low-dose, weight-adjusted heparin than in patients receiving placebo and standard-dose heparin (9.0% versus 13.7%; P=.001). Although adverse clinical outcomes including target-vessel revascularization and bleeding events were more frequent in patients requiring unplanned coronary stent deployment, abciximab therapy reduced adverse outcomes in these patients at 30 days and 6 months to a greater extent than was observed in patients not requiring stent placement. Among stented patients, abciximab therapy did not increase bleeding events. CONCLUSIONS: Patients requiring unplanned coronary stent deployment have more complex coronary lesion morphology and a more complicated clinical course after coronary intervention. Abciximab therapy both reduces the need for unplanned stent deployment and confers clinical benefit to patients requiring an unplanned stent, without increasing bleeding complications.

Complementary clinical benefits of coronary-artery stenting and blockade of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors. Evaluation of Platelet IIb/IIIa Inhibition in Stenting Investigators.

BACKGROUND: Inhibition of the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor with the monoclonal-antibody fragment abciximab reduces the acute ischemic complications associated with percutaneous coronary revascularization, whereas coronary-stent implantation reduces restenosis. We conducted a trial to determine the efficacy of abciximab and stent implantation in improving long-term outcome. METHODS: A total of 2399 patients were randomly assigned to stent implantation and placebo, stent implantation and abciximab, or balloon angioplasty and abciximab. The patients were followed for six months. RESULTS: At six months, the incidence of the composite end point of death or myocardial infarction was 11.4 percent in the group that received a stent and placebo, as compared with 5.6 percent in the group that received a stent and abciximab (hazard ratio, 0.47; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.33 to 0.68; P<0.001) and 7.8 percent in the group assigned to balloon angioplasty and abciximab (hazard ratio, 0.67; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.49 to 0.92; P=0.01). The hazard ratio for stenting plus abciximab as compared with angioplasty plus abciximab was 0.70 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.48 to 1.04; P=0.07). The rate of repeated revascularization of the target vessel was 10.6 percent in the stent-plus-placebo group, as compared with 8.7 percent in the stent-plus-abciximab group (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.59 to 1.13; P=0.22) and 15.4 percent in the angioplasty-plus-abciximab group (hazard ratio, 1.49; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.13 to 1.97; P=0.005). The hazard ratio for stenting plus abciximab as compared with angioplasty plus abciximab was 0.55 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.41 to 0.74; P<0.001). Among patients with diabetes, the combination of abciximab and stenting was associated with a lower rate of repeated target-vessel revascularization (8.1 percent) than was stenting and placebo (16.6 percent, P=0.02) or angioplasty and abciximab (18.4 percent, P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: For coronary revascularization, abciximab and stent implantation confer complementary long-term clinical benefits.

Outcomes at 1 year and economic implications of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockade in patients undergoing coronary stenting: results from a multicentre randomised trial. EPISTENT Investigators. Evaluation of Platelet IIb/IIIa Inhibitor for Stenting.

BACKGROUND: We assessed in a randomised trial the long-term outcomes for potent adjunctive antiplatelet therapy given at the time of coronary stenting. METHODS: In 63 hospitals in the USA and Canada, 2399 patients were randomly assigned stenting with abciximab, stenting with placebo, or balloon angioplasty with abciximab. Standard adjunctive therapy with aspirin, ticlopidine, and heparin was used. The major outcomes of death and myocardial infarction were assessed at 1-year follow-up by intention to treat. We also investigated the 1-year cost-effectiveness of combined stenting and abciximab therapy. FINDINGS: At 1-year follow-up, eight (1.0%) of 794 patients in the stent plus abciximab group had died, compared with 19 (2.4%) of 809 in the stent plus placebo group (hazard ratio 0.43 [95% CI 0.19-0.97], p=0.037). The combined endpoint of death or large myocardial infarction occurred in 42 (5.3%) and 89 (11.0%), respectively (0.46 [0.32-0.67], p<0.001). By multivariate modelling, the factors independently associated with improved survival were assignment to stenting with abciximab (p=0.027) and greater preprocedural stenosis (p=0.002); those associated with worse survival were age greater than 70 years (p<0.001), previous heart failure (p=0.001), diabetes treated with insulin (p=0.02), and postprocedural occlusion (p<0.001). Relative to stenting plus placebo and balloon angioplasty plus abciximab, the incremental 1-year costs of stenting plus abciximab were US$581 and $932. The corresponding cost-effectiveness ratios were US$5291 and $6213 per added life-year. INTERPRETATION: Coronary stenting with abciximab, compared with stenting alone or balloon angioplasty with abciximab, is associated with improved survival and is an economically attractive therapy by conventional standards.