TY  - JOUR
T1  - RIsk of stroke associated with abciximab among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
AU  - Akkerhuis K, Deckers JW, Lincoff A, et al
Y1  - 2001/07/04
N1  - 10.1001/jama.286.1.78
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 78
EP  - 82
VL  - 286
IS  - 1
N2  - Context 
                  Abciximab, a potent inhibitor of the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa
receptor, reduces thrombotic complications in patients undergoing percutaneous
coronary intervention (PCI). Because of its potent inhibition of platelet
aggregation, the effect of abciximab on risk of stroke is a concern.Objective 
                  To determine whether abciximab use among patients undergoing PCI is
associated with an increased risk of stroke.Design 
                  Combined analysis of data from 4 double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized
trials (EPIC, CAPTURE, EPILOG, and EPISTENT) conducted between November 1991
and October 1997 at a total of 257 academic and community hospitals in the
United States and Europe.Patients 
                  A total of 8555 patients undergoing PCI with or without stent deployment
for a variety of indications were randomly assigned to receive a bolus and
infusion of abciximab (n = 5476) or matching placebo (n = 3079). One treatment
group in EPIC received a bolus of abciximab only.Main Outcome Measure 
                  Risk of hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic stroke within 30 days of treatment
among abciximab and placebo groups.Results 
                  No significant difference in stroke rate was observed between patients
assigned abciximab (n = 22 [0.40%]) and those assigned placebo (n = 9 [0.29%]; P = .46). Excluding the EPIC abciximab bolus-only group,
there were 9 strokes (0.30%) among 3023 patients who received placebo and
15 (0.32%) in 4680 patients treated with abciximab bolus plus infusion, a
difference of 0.02% (95% confidence interval [CI], −0.23% to 0.28%).
The rate of nonhemorrhagic stroke was 0.17% in patients treated with abciximab
and 0.20% in patients treated with placebo (difference, −0.03%; 95%
CI, −0.23% to 0.17%), and the rates of hemorrhagic stroke were 0.15%
and 0.10%, respectively (difference, 0.05%; 95% CI, −0.11% to 0.21%).
Among patients treated with abciximab, the rate of hemorrhagic stroke in patients
receiving standard-dose heparin in EPIC, CAPTURE, and EPILOG was higher than
in those receiving low-dose heparin in the EPILOG and EPISTENT trials (0.27%
vs 0.04%; P = .057).Conclusions 
                  Abciximab in addition to aspirin and heparin does not increase the risk
of stroke in patients undergoing PCI. Patients undergoing PCI and treated
with abciximab should receive low-dose, weight-adjusted heparin.
SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jama.286.1.78
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.286.1.78
ER  -