Tirofiban (Aggrastat) protects platelets and decreases platelet-granulocyte binding in an extracorporeal circulation model

The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon
A StraubGerhard Ziemer

Abstract

Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) induces platelet activation and inflammation with potentially life-threatening organ dysfunction. Short-acting GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors like tirofiban and eptifibatide protect platelets during ECC without increasing bleeding complications and may reduce inflammation. This study investigates anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects of different platelet inhibitors. Control (untreated) and treated (using either 150 ng/mL tirofiban, 2.5 microg/mL eptifibatide, 0.7 microg/mL milrinone, 15 microg/mL dipyridamol, or 300 KIU/mL aprotinin) heparinized blood of healthy volunteers (n = 6) was recirculated in a well-established ECC model (Chandler loop). Percentage of platelet aggregates, P-selectin-expressing (activated) platelets, CD15-positive aggregates (indicating proinflammatory platelet-granulocyte binding), and platelet counts were determined before (baseline) and after 30 minutes recirculation in unstimulated and ADP-stimulated samples using flow cytometry. Statistical analysis was performed using multifactor ANOVA after transforming the data (logarithms for counts and log odds for percentages). Least square means were backtransformed to obtain appropriate means and their 95 % confidence interv...Continue Reading

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