Long-term results following switch from abciximab to eptifibatide during percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The usage of platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors improves the outcome during high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects after a planned switch from abciximab to eptifibatide during PCI.

HYPOTHESIS: A switch from the general use of abciximab to eptifibatide as a GP IIb/IIIa in connection with PCI would not have any negative effects on long-term clinical outcomes.

METHODS: To reduce costs, a general switch from abciximab to eptifibatide was instituted in 2004 in 2 university hospitals in Sweden. All patients treated 6 months before and 6 months after the switch were followed for 30 months. During the study period, 1038 patients underwent PCI and received a GP IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor, 481 (46%) before the switch (Group A) and 557 (54%) after the switch (Group B). The 2 groups had similar baseline characteristics. The primary endpoint was the composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or new coronary revascularization (percutaneous or surgical); secondary endpoints were the individual components of this composite. A separate analysis was performed on patients treated for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction/unstable angina, and diabetes, respectively. Data were collected from the Swedish Coronary Angiography and Angioplasty Registry.

RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups in the primary endpoint (29.7% in Group A vs 29.3% in Group B; P = 0.48) or in any of the secondary endpoints.

CONCLUSIONS: A switch from the general usage of abciximab to eptifibatide as a GP IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor in connection with PCI did not seem to have any negative effects on long-term clinical outcomes.