Effects of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition on clinical stabilization parameters in patients with unstable angina and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction.

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibition prevents the major cardiac events and improves the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndromes. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of tirofiban on clinical stabilization parameters in patients with unstable angina (UA) and non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI). Eighty-three patients presenting with prolonged ongoing chest pain and ST segment depression were included in the study. Forty-two patients were randomized to aspirin and heparin therapy, and 41 patients to tirofiban therapy in addition to the aspirin and heparin therapy. The interval between the initiation of the treatment and the disappearance of angina, recovery time of ST segment depression, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels, onset of decrease and normalization of CK-MB, and frequency of in-hospital major cardiac events were compared. The interval between initiation of the treatment and the disappearance of angina was significantly shorter in the tirofiban group (3.5 +/- 4.2 vs 9.1 +/- 8.6 h, P << 0.001). Recovery time of ST depression was also significantly shorter in the tirofiban group (5.1 +/- 7.3 vs 12.3 +/- 11.5 h, P << 0.05). The peak CK-MB values were significantly lower in the non-Q-wave MI and UA subgroups of tirofiban than in the heparin group ( P = 0.04 for both). The onset of the CK-MB decrease was significantly earlier in the tirofiban group (15 +/- 14 vs 24 +/- 15 h, P = 0.02). The normalization time of the CK-MB was relatively shorter in the tirofiban group but without statistical significance (50 +/- 22 vs 60 +/- 25 h). The tirofiban group had a lower frequency of total major cardiac events (26% vs 54%, P = 0.01), acute MI (2.4% vs 19%, P = 0.03), and recurrent angina (26% vs 50%, P = 0.04). The frequency of death and urgent revascularization did not differ between the groups. Tirofiban, in addition to heparin, provides earlier clinical stability and prevents major in-hospital cardiac events in patients with UA and non-Q-wave MI as compared to heparin therapy alone.