Eptifibatide does not suppress the increase of inflammatory markers in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Platelets are involved in inflammatory reactions which play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis and its acute complications. The objective of this study was to test the ability of glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa antagonist eptifibatide to suppress the increase of inflammatory markers in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: Twenty-five patients with unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction received eptifibatide on admission (two 180 microg/kg boluses followed by infusion at 2.0 and 1.3 microg/kg/min for 24 and 48 h, respectively) and 25 were treated without GP IIb-IIIa antagonists. Plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) and soluble P-selectin were determined at baseline, 48 h and 2 weeks after onset of ACS, and were also measured in a group of healthy volunteers. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), and interleukin 6 (IL6) were measured at baseline, 48 h, 2 weeks and 6 months.

Results: P-selectin was increased at baseline and vWF at baseline, 48 h and 2 weeks in comparison with healthy donors. CRP, TNFalpha, but not IL6 were increased at baseline, 48 h and 2 weeks in comparison with their levels at 6 months. Maximal values of CRP, TNFalpha and vWF were detected at 48 h. At any time point eptifibatide failed to decrease the levels of all tested markers.

Conclusion: Eptifibatide does not suppress elevated levels of inflammatory markers in patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS.