Intracranial hemorrhages associated with intravenous platelet glycoprotein IIB/IIIA receptor inhibitors in the United States

Objectives: To determine the rates of intracranial hemorrhages associated with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors in routine practice. Background: Rates of intracranial hemorrhages (ICH) among patients treated with platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors for coronary interventions and acute coronary syndromes have been studied within clinical trials but not in routine practice. Methods: We evaluated the rates of ICH in routine practice in United States (US) using national estimates of rates, in-hospital outcomes, and mortality obtained from National Hospital Discharge Survey. Results: There were 367 294 patients aged 18 years or greater who were treated with platelet GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors between 2000 and 2002 in United States. ICH was observed in 479 (0.13%) of the 367 294 patients with a 100% associated mortality. ICHs related to GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors comprised 0.12% of the total number of ICHs (n = 411 621) observed in United States between 2000 and 2002. Conclusions: ICH related to platelet GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors is uncommon but associated with high mortality.