QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: GLOSSARY
Abciximab (trade name Rheopro)
This is an antibody raised against the platelet IIb/IIIa receptor and is used during angioplasty and PTCA, PCI to prevent thrombosis; it does however cause bleeding. Clinical outcomes with abciximab therapy in acute myocardial infarction has been systematically reviewed. Whether the results of earlier trials demonstrating the efficacy of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor abciximab in improving clinical and angiographic outcomes can be generalised to a broader patient population is uncertain because of the bleeding risk. The proteinaceous nature of the product is another problem, as this is always risky on repeated use in the same patient; for this purpose, chemically synthesised IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists would be safer, but the bleeding risk is the same.