Intracoronary eptifibatide bolus administration during percutaneous coronary revascularization for acute coronary syndromes with evaluation of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor occupancy and platelet function: the Intracoronary Eptifibatide (ICE) Trial.

BACKGROUND: Eptifibatide reduces major adverse cardiac events in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Intracoronary bolus administration of eptifibatide may result in higher levels of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor occupancy in the local coronary bed, disaggregate thrombus in the epicardial artery and microvasculature, and thereby improve coronary flow.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients undergoing PCI for an acute coronary syndrome were randomized to either intracoronary or intravenous bolus administration of eptifibatide. The primary end point was the local glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor occupancy measured in the coronary sinus. There were no angiographic, electrophysiological, or other adverse findings attributable to intracoronary eptifibatide. Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor occupancy was significantly greater with intracoronary versus intravenous administration: first bolus, 94+/-9% versus 51+/-15% (P<0.001); and second bolus, 99+/-2% versus 91+/-4% (P=0.001), respectively. Microvascular perfusion was significantly improved as measured by the corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (cTFC) with intracoronary versus intravenous administration: pre-PCI, 36 (median) (25th and 75th percentiles, 16 and 64) versus 31 (25th and 75th percentiles, 23 and 45; P=0.8); and post-PCI, 18 (25th and 75th percentiles, 10 and 22) versus 25 (25th and 75th percentiles, 22 and 35; P=0.007), respectively. The only multivariate predictor associated with a post-PCI cTFC rank score was the first bolus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor occupancy (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Intracoronary bolus administration of eptifibatide during PCI in patients with acute coronary syndromes results in higher local platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor occupancy, which is associated with improved microvascular perfusion demonstrated by an improved cTFC.