Bleeding complications associated with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients 80 years of age and older undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Treatment of symptomatic coronary artery disease with percutaneous intervention requires antithrombotic therapy. Patients with elevated thromboembolic risk benefit from therapy with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. The safety and effectiveness of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition have been well documented in clinical trials. Drug-induced bleeding complications in elderly patients have not been specifically addressed.

Methods: Between 2006 and 2009, a total of 439 unselected patients 80 years of age and older undergoing percutaneous intervention for symptomatic coronary artery disease were included in the present nonrandomized retrospective study. In one-half of the patients, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors were administered peri-interventionally. The in-hospital occurrence of bleeding complications (access site, gastrointestinal and cerebral) were analyzed in the groups with and without glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 84 years. Nearly all patients (95%) received dual antiplatelet therapy. Patients treated with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors had more complex coronary lesions and bypass graft interventions, and a tendency toward more access site bleeding complications than patients without inhibitors, which included femoral hematomas (4.6% versus 2.3%, respectively; P not significant) and femoral pseudoaneurysms (6% versus 3.2%, respectively; P not significant). The rate of blood transfusion was equal in both groups (0.9%). Major hemorrhagic events did not occur. Vessel closure devices were used more often in patients without glycoprotein inhibition.

Conclusions: An increase in minor bleedings must be expected when using glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients 80 years of age and older. However, this issue must not prevent this treatment option from being offered to elderly patients. There appears to be no elevated risk for major bleeding complications. Broadened use of vascular closure devices in this specific patient population may lower the rate of access site complications.