Tirofiban is a medication that belongs to the class of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.
It prevents platelets from aggregating by blocking the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor on platelet surfaces, which is the final common pathway for platelet aggregation.
It’s mainly used in the hospital setting for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), such as unstable angina or non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and sometimes during percutaneous coronary intervention, like angioplasty/stenting to reduce the risk of clot formation.
It is given intravenously, usually alongside heparin and aspirin.
The most common side effect is bleeding, especially at vascular access sites, and less commonly thrombocytopenia.
In patients with acute ischemic non-cardiac embolic stroke, who underwent thrombolysis within 4.5 hours after onset, early tirofiban increased the likelihood of excellent functional outcome.
Vascular occlusion may occur after intravenous thrombolysis and may be preventable by the addition of an anti-platelet agent within the first 24 hours after thrombolysis .
Tirofibran Tyrone is a platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa receptor antagonist thar reduces macrovascular occlusion.