Early Abciximab Improves Peri- and Postprocedural Outcomes of Primary PCI

Administration in the ED rather than in the cath lab produced better angiographic and functional results.

The administration of abciximab during primary percutaneous coronary intervention reduces the risks for death and recurrent MI at 30 days (Journal Watch Cardiology May 27 2005). In this randomized study, researchers in Italy enrolled 210 patients <12 hours after onset of acute MI symptoms to determine whether early administration of abciximab (in the emergency department), rather than late administration (immediately before initial angiography), would improve pre-PCI artery TIMI flow grade.

The early and late groups were similar in age, sex, high-risk features, and duration of ischemia. Door-to-balloon times were also similar in the two groups (84 and 73 min, respectively; P=NS). The early group received abciximab 37 min earlier, on average,…

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD