Tirofiban (Aggrastat®) Protects Platelets and Decreases Platelet-Granulocyte Binding in an Extracorporeal Circulation Model

Abstract

Amongst the investigated drugs only GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors decreased activation, aggregation, and loss of platelets during ECC but acted differently on platelet-granulocyte interaction. A short-acting GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor with the potential to inhibit platelet activation and platelet-leukocyte interaction should be considered both for platelet protection and inhibition of platelet-mediated inflammation during ECC.