A 77-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus is admitted to the hospital because of chest pain and dyspnea. Serum troponin levels are elevated and an ECG shows ST-segment depressions in the lateral leads. Percutaneous coronary angiography is performed and occlusion of the distal left anterior descending coronary artery is identified. Pharmacotherapy with eptifibatide is initiated and a drug-eluting stent is placed in the left anterior descending coronary artery. The mechanism by which eptifibatide acts is similar to the underlying pathophysiology of which of the following conditions?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Glanzmann thrombasthenia is an autosomal recessive bleeding disorder caused by deficient platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors, which prevent fibrinogen from binding to platelets. The inability of fibrinogen to bind to platelets impairs platelet aggregation and thrombus formation, predisposing an individual to bleeding. The characteristic symptoms of gingival or mucosal bleeding typically manifest during infancy. Administration of eptifibatide impairs platelet aggregation by inhibiting platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors, mimicking the pathophysiologic mechanism of Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Other examples of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors include abciximab and tirofiban.

A 77-Year-Old Man with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Is Admitted