Summary
Our study concerns thrombocytopenia in patients with acute ischaemic coronary artery
disease receiving antiplatelet drugs to the αIIbβ3 inte-grin (GPIIb/IIIa). We have
screened for drug-dependent antibodies (DDAB) in 18 patients who suffered a fall of
> 50% in platelet count (9 patients had a nadir of <50,000 platelets/μl) after receiving
abciximab and related results to clinical outcome. Serum or plasma was screened for
DDAB using (i) a direct ELISA against purified αIIbβ3, αIIbβ3-abciximab complexes
or abciximab alone, (ii) control platelets and flow cytometry and (iii) monoclonal
antibody immobilisation of platelet antigens. DDAB were found for 11 patients, with
αIIbβ3 ELISA the most sensitive test. Progressive platelet consumption linked with
haemoglobin loss and/or use of intra-aortic balloon pumping, another potential cause
of a fall in platelet count, was also evaluated. DDAB were identified that recognised
αIIbβ3 associated with abciximab and/ or abciximab alone. Screening of both progressive
and delayed thrombocytopenia (appearing after 5 to 11 days) suggested that antibodies
against abciximab preceded those recognising neo-epitopes on αIIbβ3, with a time-dependent
broadening of antibody specificities. Higher titres were seen after second abciximab
use. Five antibodies were platelet-activating. In conclusion, the mechanisms responsible
for this complication of anti-αIIbβ3 therapy are multiple and often associated with
a complex immune response.
Keywords
Coronary syndrome - GPIIb/IIIa - thrombocytopenia - antiplatelet agents - platelet
immunology