Dissolution of thrombus formed during direct coronary angioplasty with a single 10 mg intracoronary bolus dose of abciximab

Direct coronary angioplasty with stent implantation is an effective treatment for acute myocardial infarction. The use of adjunctive abciximab, a platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist is expensive. We report on three cases of direct coronary angioplasty complicated by extensive thrombus formation that were successfully treated with attenuated dosing of abciximab via the intracoronary route. All patients presented with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock or eminent cardiogenic shock. Abciximab was administered after balloon dilatation when extensive thrombus formation was noted and persisted despite repeated inflations. In all three patients a single 10 mg vial of intracoronary abciximab was administered, resulting in complete dissolution of thrombus, allowing successful deployment of stents. Thus, a single 10 mg intracoronary bolus dose of abciximab may be sufficient to achieve high local concentrations of antiplatelet activity. This facilitates thrombus dissolution and allows the safe deployment of a stent to normalise intracoronary rheology.