Angioscopic evaluation of site-specific administration of ReoPro

Systemic administration of newer antiplatelet agents such as the GP IIb/IIIa agent ReoPro (Centocor BV Leiden, The Netherlands) has been shown to decrease the early incidence of recurrent ischemia and recurrent myocardial infarction. The currently approved protocol for administration of ReoPro involves an initial weight adjusted bolus followed by a systemic infusion over the next 12 hr. The systemic administration is proposed as the only route of administration because it is stated that the drug must be exposed to circulating platelets. An alternative approach would be to deliver ReoPro locally and allow the platelets to disaggregate only when in contact with the local arterial wall. The optimal method of monitoring the efficacy of such a strategy is to visually assess the presence of platelet rich or red blood cell rich thrombus using angioscopy. We report our initial experience in 12 patients who received local administration of ReoPro using currently approved catheters for local administration of agents into coronary arteries who were evaluated before and after intervention using intracoronary angioscopy. None of the patients received a subsequent 12-hr infusion. There was successful resolution of thrombus in 11 of 12 patients. Recurrent ischemia occurred in one patient without myocardial infarction.