The effects of tirofiban on peripheral markers of oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in patients with acute coronary syndromes

BackgroundEndothelial 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 methodsWe 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.ResultsBaseline 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).ConclusionTirofiban 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.