Eptifibatide-associated acute, profound thrombocytopenia.

Objective: To describe 3 cases of eptifibatide-associated acute, profound thrombocytopenia.

Case Summaries: A 40-year-old black female received eptifibatide 180-microg/kg double bolus followed by a continuous infusion of 2 microg/kg/min for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The platelet count decreased from 308 x 10(3)/mm3 to 2 x10(3)/mm3 4 hours after initiation of eptifibatide.

Hospital policies regarding herbal medicines.

The prevalence and content of herbal policies and herbal formularies in the hospital setting were studied. Drug information centers affiliated with hospital pharmacies were surveyed by telephone. Hospitals with policies on herbal products were asked to provide detailed information about the policies.