The efficacy of abciximab and moderate dose heparin in attaining reperfusion in acute MI was tested in a multicenter pilot study. Patients with acute MI of less than 6-hr onset triaged to primary PTCA received intravenous abciximab bolus and infusion and heparin (70 u/kg) in the emergency room. Mean time to angiography from administration of abciximab was 34 +/- 23 min. TIMI flow rates were: grade 0-62%, grade I-20%, grade II-9%, and grade III-9%. Primary PTCA was performed with 100% success rate. Access site bleeding occurred in 10% of patients with no incidence of intracranial bleeding. TIMI II/III flow rates were 50% in a patient subset where angiography was delayed by 45 min. While not an alternative to thrombolytics in AMI, abciximab administration in the emergency room in patients triaged to PTCA may be beneficial in situation where door to needle time is delayed as TIMI II/III flows may be attained in some patients. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 48:430-434, 1999.
Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.