Similar anti-inflammatory effects of intracoronary and intravenous Abciximab during primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a randomized study

Background Intracoronary Abciximab administration during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) could offer theoretical advantages over the intravenous route. Besides antiplatelet effects, Abciximab can modulate inflammation via cross-reactivity with GPIIb/IIIa, avb3, and aMb2 receptors. The aim of our study was to assess whether the Abciximab administration route could influence its anti-inflammatory effects. Methods Eighty-nine consecutive ST elevation myocardial infarction patient candidates for pPCI were randomized to intracoronary (Group A-47 patients) or intravenous (Group B-42 patients) Abciximab bolus administration. The primary endpoint was the extent of inflammation, measured by C-reactive protein (CRP), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and inter-cellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) levels. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01757457. Results Data are expressed in medians (interquartiles). In both groups, troponin levels were similar [baseline: 0.12 (0.03–0.94) vs. 0.27 (0.07–1.24) ng/ml, P = 0.73; postprocedural: 22.00 (14.75–69.43) vs. 31.96 (8.23–7.20) ng/ml, P = 0.83]. Both groups also showed similar baseline [0.31 (0.14–0.69) vs. 0.22 (0.09–0.59) mg/ml, P = 0.80] and postprocedural CRP levels [2.28 (1.37–4.23) vs. 2.16 (1.15–3.22) mg/dl, P = 0.69], similar baseline [272.5 (224.7–340.8) vs. 262.2 (221.2–306.4) ng/ml, P = 0.33] and postprocedural soluble ICAM-1 levels [281.5 (244.6–337.4) vs. 287.2 (226.9–359.2) ng/ml P = 0.71], and similar baseline [771.6 (620.9–971.0) vs. 748.6 (592.2–838.8) ng/ml, P = 0.30] and postprocedural soluble VCAM-1 levels [785.2 (671.6–947.1) vs. 745.9 (641.1–841.9) ng/ml, P = 0.17]. In-hospital and 6-month event rates were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Our study suggests that Abciximab has similar anti-inflammatory effects irrespective of the administration route. It is unlikely that the potential clinical benefits of intracoronary Abciximab can be related to modulation of integrin receptors.