Effects of escalating doses of tirofiban on platelet aggregation and major receptor expression in diabetic patients: Hitting the TARGET in the TENACITY trial?

Abstract Introduction Ongoing search for the optimal dosing regimens, and valid concerns that some GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors may cause rebound platelet activation are limiting the use of these agents in patients with acute vascular events. Materials and methods We assessed the in vitro effects of preincubation with escalating (12.5–200 ng/mL) concentrations of tirofiban on platelet biomarkers in 20 diabetic patients. Platelet activity was assessed by ADP-, and collagen-induced conventional plasma aggregometry, and by whole blood flow cytometry measuring expression of PECAM-1, GPIb, GP IIb/IIIa antigen and activity, vitronectin, P-selectin, LAMP-1, GP 37, LAMP-3, activated and intact PAR-1 thrombin receptors, GPIV, and platelet-monocyte formation. All patients were treated with aspirin (at least 81 mg daily for 1 month); other antiplatelet agents were not allowed. Results Significant decrease of ADP-induced platelet aggregation was observed starting at the low 12.5 ng/mL concentration ( p =0.0001), with total inhibition occurring at 50 ng/mL of tirofiban dose. Inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregability requires 25 ng/ml of tirofiban ( p =0.002), and was complete at 100 ng/mL. Dose-dependent blockade of GP IIb/IIIa activity was observed with tirofiban concentrations over 50 ng/mL ( p =0.003). Other receptors were unaffected even with the high doses of tirofiban (100–200 ng/mL). Conclusion Tirofiban completely inhibits ADP- and, with the higher dose, collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Higher loading dose of tirofiban used in the ongoing TENACITY trial (100 ng/mL) may be superior with regard to clinical outcomes to the regimens used in PRISM-PLUS (25 ng/mL), or TARGET (50 ng/mL). Selective inhibition of GPIIb/IIIa activity, and lack of alternative platelet activation beyond the GP IIb/IIIa blockade may represent the therapeutic advantage of tirofiban over other agents.