Background: Endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress are believed to be central mechanisms in atherogenesis. We aimed to determine the effects of tirofiban on oxidative stress and neutrophil-endothelium interaction markers in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).
Materials and methods: We measured malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble endothelial intercellular and vascular adhesion molecules (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) on admission, at 48 and 72 h and on 5th day of hospitalization in 34 patients (age 66.5+/-1.8 years) with ACS. Patients with recurrent angina, changes on the electrocardiogram and/or elevated troponin I received intravenously tirofiban for 48 h and the others received normal saline.
Results: Baseline concentrations of all markers did not differ significantly and compared with placebo, tirofiban infusion markedly reduced MDA, IL-6, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 at 48 h (-31+/-6% vs. 84+/-49%, p=0.007, -12+/-14% vs. 23+/-10%, p=0.05, -20+/-6% vs. 36+/-25%, p=0.04 and -10+/-5% vs. 6+/-5%, p=0.02, respectively). Relative to baseline, significant reductions were observed for all 4 markers at 72 h and day 5 (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Tirofiban potentiates the decline in oxidative stress and may reverse abnormal endothelial activation in patients with ACS. This benefit seems to remain over the following 5 days.