Abciximab reduces mortality in diabetics following percutaneous coronary intervention

Issues and challenges with antithrombotic therapy in diabetic patients with acute coronary syndromes

Diabetes mellitus is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the setting of acute coronary syndromes. This increased risk is attributable, in large part, to the derangements in coagulation that can accompany the diabetic disease state. Patients with diabetes mellitus have disturbances in endothelial function, platelet function, and coagulation factors. Until recently, there has been little direct exploration of therapeutic measures to improve outcome specifically among diabetic patients with acute coronary syndromes. Fortunately, antithrombotic therapies that have proven benefit in the general population also seem to be beneficial among patients with diabetes, although optimal dosing for improved safety and efficacy in this population has yet to be established for many of these agents. Primary prevention strategies and strict attention to risk factor modification hold the greatest promise for improving long-term outcome.

The use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients with coronary artery disease

Platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, a new class of potent antiplatelet agents, have been used in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes as well as in the prevention of complications after percutaneous coronary interventions. Approximately 50,000 patients with coronary artery disease have been enrolled in randomized studies of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. The purpose of this article is to review the pharmacology of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, the results of the clinical trials using these agents, and their current use in percutaneous coronary interventions and the treatment of acute coronary syndromes.

Emerging Therapies: Spectrum of Applications of Monoclonal Antibody Therapy

This article focuses on the recent dramatic advances in the applications of monoclonal antibody therapy to hematopoietic and neoplastic disease. The increase in the understanding of the role of growth factors and their receptors in the pathogenesis of malignancy and other undesirable hematological events taken in conjunction with the ability to produce humanized chimeric monoclonal antibodies to these targets is providing a new perspective for the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma and breast cancer, autoimmune disease and for prevention of ischemic complications. Dr. Waldmann describes approaches targeting the Her2/neu and the II-2/IL-15 receptor systems. The Her2/neu receptor is overexpressed in select breast, ovarian, gastric and pancreatic neoplasms. The use of trastuzumab (Herceptin) in the treatment of patients with breast cancer whose tumors overexpress this receptor are reviewed. The IL-2 receptor (Tac) is expressed on select malignant cells (adult T cell leukemia, hairy cell leukemia) and activated T cells involved in autoimmune disease and organ rejection. Humanized anti-Tac alone (daclizumab, Zenapax) or armed with toxins or radionuclides have been used successfully in the treatment of leukemia. Dr. Levy updates the experience with rituximab targeting CD20 on B cell lymphomas and reviews the antibodies to CD3, CD22, CD33, CD52, HLA-DR β chain and HLA-D currently in or proposed for clinical trials, including radiolabelled antibodies. In the last section, Dr. Coller reviews the therapeutic results achieved with abciximab (ReoPro), an antagonist of platelet receptor GPIIbIIIa for the prevention of restenosis in percutaneous coronary interventions and the treatment of unstable angina. The mechanism of action, pharmacology and safety and efficacy of abciximab are reviewed.

Emerging Therapies: Spectrum of Applications of Monoclonal Antibody Therapy

This article focuses on the recent dramatic advances in the applications of monoclonal antibody therapy to hematopoietic and neoplastic disease. The increase in the understanding of the role of growth factors and their receptors in the pathogenesis of malignancy and other undesirable hematological events taken in conjunction with the ability to produce humanized chimeric monoclonal antibodies to these targets is providing a new perspective for the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma and breast cancer, autoimmune disease and for prevention of ischemic complications. Dr. Waldmann describes approaches targeting the Her2/neu and the II-2/IL-15 receptor systems. The Her2/neu receptor is overexpressed in select breast, ovarian, gastric and pancreatic neoplasms. The use of trastuzumab (Herceptin) in the treatment of patients with breast cancer whose tumors overexpress this receptor are reviewed. The IL-2 receptor (Tac) is expressed on select malignant cells (adult T cell leukemia, hairy cell leukemia) and activated T cells involved in autoimmune disease and organ rejection. Humanized anti-Tac alone (daclizumab, Zenapax) or armed with toxins or radionuclides have been used successfully in the treatment of leukemia. Dr. Levy updates the experience with rituximab targeting CD20 on B cell lymphomas and reviews the antibodies to CD3, CD22, CD33, CD52, HLA-DR β chain and HLA-D currently in or proposed for clinical trials, including radiolabelled antibodies. In the last section, Dr. Coller reviews the therapeutic results achieved with abciximab (ReoPro), an antagonist of platelet receptor GPIIbIIIa for the prevention of restenosis in percutaneous coronary interventions and the treatment of unstable angina. The mechanism of action, pharmacology and safety and efficacy of abciximab are reviewed.