Abciximab

The Uses of Abciximab

Monoclonal antibody (antithrombotic).

brand name

ReoPro (Lilly).

General Description

Abciximab (ReoPro) is a chimeric Fabfragment monoclonal antibody that can bind to theGPIIa/IIIb receptor of platelets and block the ability offibrinogen to associate with the platelet. This results in lessplatelet aggregation. Abciximab is useful in treating unstableangina and as an adjunct to percutaneous coronaryintervention (PCI). The half-life of abciximab is about30 minutes, whereas its effects when bound to theGPIIa/IIIb may last up to 24 hours. A significant drawbackto using abciximab lies in its cost, which is approximately$1,500 for a single dose.

Pharmacokinetics

For an adult patient, the usual dosing scheme is 0.25 mg/kg as an intravenous bolus given 10 to 60 minutes before percutaneous coronary intervention, followed by the continuous infusion of 0.125 μg/kg/minute for 12 hours to a maximum of 10 μg/kg. Elimination of abciximab is biphasic. The initial phase has a half-life of 10 minutes, whereas the half-life of the second phase is approximately 30 minutes and results from platelet binding. Platelet function returns to normal within 48 hours after infusion, even though abciximab is bound to circulating platelets for approximately 2 weeks。

Clinical Use

Abciximab (ReoPro, chimeric) is an MAb engineered from theglycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor of human platelets. The preparationis fragmented, containing only the Fab portion of theantibody molecule. This MAb is a chimeric human–mouseimmunoglobulin. The Fab fragments may contain mouse variableheavy- and light-chain regions and human constantheavy- and light-chain regions.
Abciximab is indicated as an adjunct to percutaneoustransluminal coronary angioplasty or atherectomy for theprevention of acute cardiac ischemic complications in patientsat high risk for abrupt closure of a treated coronaryvessel. Abciximab appears to decrease the incidence ofmyocardial infarction.
Abciximab binds to the intact GPIIb/GPIIIa receptor,which is a member of the integrin family of adhesion receptorsand the major platelet-specific receptors involved in aggregation.The antibody prevents platelet aggregation bypreventing the binding of fibrinogen, the von Willebrandfactor, and other adhesion molecules on activated platelets.The inhibition of binding to the surface receptors may be aresult of steric hindrance or conformational effects preventinglarge molecules from approaching the receptor.

Side Effects

Many of the side effects of abciximab are due to its anti-platelet effects which increase the risk of bleeding. The most common type of bleeding due to abciximab is gastrointestinal hemorrhage.Thrombocytopenia is a rare but known serious risk characterized by a severe drop in platelets circulating in the blood. Abciximab induced thrombocytopenia is usually rapid occurring hours after administration but may occur up to 16 days later.Transfusing platelets is the only known treatment for abciximab-induced thrombocytopenia, but this therapy may have limited effectiveness because the drug may bind and inhibit the receptors on the newly transfused platelets.