Clinical Medicine Reviews in Vascular Health

Acute coronary syndrome is one of the major health problems worldwide and accounts for a great number of cardiac hospitalizations in the Western world. Atherosclerotic plaque rupture or erosion followed by platelet activation and total occlusion of a coronary artery is involved in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction. The glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor, a platelet surface integrin, plays a key role in platelet aggregation once it has been activated. In order to improve myocardial tissue reperfusion, platelet inhibition with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (in combination with aspirin, clopidogrel, and heparin) has been shown as beneficial adjuvant therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Tirofiban is a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor. This article reviews the data concerning its use in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction, the pharmacokinetic profile, contraindications, an adjuvant anticoagulation therapy and the surveillance.