Table 1.

Pharmacological and clinical information for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.

	Eptifibatide	Tirofiban	Abciximab
Route	IV/IA	IV/IA	IV/IA
Loading/bolus dose	180–200 µg/kg (IA/IV) (to repeat after 10 min) 9 , 12 , 59	0.4 µg/kg/min over 30 min (IV/IA) 60 , 61 or (low dose scheme) 0.25–0.5 mg in 1 ml/min (IA) 38	0.25 mg/kg (IA, IV) 35 , 44 , 45 , 54
Maintenance dose	0.5–2 µg/kg/min (IV) 37 , 45	0.10 µg/kg/min 45 , 60 , 61	0.125 µg/kg/min (IV) 44 , 45
Binding affinity (KD)	+ (120 nmol/l) 62	++ (15 nmol/l) 62	++++ (5 nmol/l) 62
≥80% platelet inhibition after IV bolus	15 min 8	10 min 63	10 min 63
Restoration to normal platelet activity	4 h 64	3–4 h 64	48–72 h 64
Dose adjustment in CKD	Yes 65	Yes 65	No 65
Precautions: - Elective major surgery (to hold)	2–4 h 3	2–4 h 3	12 h 66
Thrombocytopenic event rate	+ 67	+ 67	++++ 67
Tips to prevent bleeding complications:	- single wall arterial entry	-single wall arterial entry	-single wall arterial entry
	- early sheath removal (ACT <150 to 180) 36	-early sheath removal (ACT <150 to 180) 36	-early sheath removal (ACT <150 to 180) 36
Bridging to dual oral antiplatelets: - time to wait before measuring baseline ARU and PRU values (VerifyNow assay)	48 h 68	48 h 68	14 days 68

These are common dosing regimens described in the literature, please use local guidelines and clinical expertise to guide practice.

IA: intra-arterial; IV: intra-venous; ACT: activated clotting time; CKD: chronic kidney disease; ARU: aspirin resistance unit; PRU: P2Y12 reaction units.