Does tirofiban prevent platelet loss in patients after cardiogenic shock during continuous renal replacement therapy?
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* Corresponding author: Achim Jörres achim.joerres@charite.de
Department of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
Critical Care 2008, 12:193 doi:10.1186/cc7083
Published: 24 November 2008Abstract
Link and colleagues present a pilot study investigating platelet function and platelet numbers in patients with cardiogenic shock and acute kidney failure undergoing continuous venovenous haemodialysis. Their data indicate a significantly reduced platelet loss with combined therapy of unfractionated heparin plus tirofiban, the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist, compared with unfractionated heparin therapy alone. Owing to the small sample size, however, the potential impact of additional treatment variables (antiplatelet agents, intraaortic counterpulsation) could not be clarified. A substantially larger, adequately powered study is therefore called for to establish the potential clinical relevance of these findings.