Background: Paradoxically, fibrinolytic agents may systemically activate platelets, which in turn secrete plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), an antagonist of the fibrinolytic process in proportion to total body platelet mass. We hypothesized that improved epicardial patency, myocardial perfusion, and ST-segment resolution would be associated with higher levels of platelet receptor occupancy (RO) by a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist in ST-elevation MI (STEMI).
Methods and results: Patients were drawn from the low-dose tenecteplase plus eptifibatide arm of the INTEGRITI study. Angiographic and platelet RO data were analyzed at 2 independent core laboratories. To take into account the absolute platelet count and receptors available for cross-linking, absolute platelet count was multiplied by percent of available receptors to obtain the index of the absolute number of receptors available (IANRA). Percent RO was higher among patients with a patent artery (TIMI flow grade 2/3; 78.2+/-9.2, n=63 versus 63.9+/-29.7, n=7; P=0.005), those with TIMI myocardial perfusion grade 2/3 (79.6+/-9.5, n=40 versus 73.0+/-16.2, n=30; P=0.036), and those with complete (> or =70%) ST-segment resolution at 60 minutes (81.3+/-8.3%, n=27 versus 73.1+/-17.4%, n=24; P=0.034). The absolute number of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors available for cross-linking was reduced (ie, the IANRA was lower) among patients with a patent artery (P=0.0015), patients with TIMI myocardial perfusion grade 2/3 (P=0.026), and patients with > or =70% ST-segment resolution (P=0.029).
Conclusions: This study links restoration of epicardial flow, normal myocardial perfusion, and complete ST-segment resolution with higher levels of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor occupancy after therapy with eptifibatide administered with tenecteplase.