Abciximab Facilitates the Rate and Extent of Thrombolysis

Background —The TIMI 14 trial tested the hypothesis that abciximab, the Fab fragment of a monoclonal antibody directed to the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor, is a potent and safe addition to reduced-dose thrombolytic regimens for ST-segment elevation MI. Methods and Results —Patients (n=888) with ST-elevation MI presenting <12 hours from onset of symptoms were treated with aspirin and randomized initially to either 100 mg of accelerated-dose alteplase (control) or abciximab (bolus 0.25 mg/kg and 12-hour infusion of 0.125 μg · kg −1 · min −1 ) alone or in combination with reduced doses of alteplase (20 to 65 mg) or streptokinase (500 000 U to 1.5 MU). Control patients recei…