Safety and Efficacy of Tirofiban in Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization of Intracranial Aneurysms

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolic complications are a major concern in stent-assisted coiling of intracranial aneurysms that may be prevented with adequate antiplatelet therapy. OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of tirofiban in stent-assisted coiling. METHODS: Two protocols were used. In the initial protocol, tirofiban was administered intravenously as a 0.4 mu g/kg per min bolus for 30 minutes followed by 0.10 mu g.kg(-1) min(-1) maintenance infusion. The revised protocol consisted of a 0.10 mu g.kg(-1) min(-1) maintenance infusion alone. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients received tirofiban, 16 under the initial protocol and 51 under the revised protocol. Thirty (44.8%) patients had sustained a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Tirofiban infusion was initiated after thromboembolic events in 9 (13.4%) patients and prophylactically in 58 (86.6%). Four (6.0%) intracranial hemorrhages were noted. Three (18.8%) intracranial hemorrhages occurred with the initial protocol in patients treated electively and were fatal in 2 (66.7%) cases. The only complication (1.9%) under the revised protocol was a subclinical worsening of the computed tomographic appearance of an SAH. There was no tirofiban-related morbidity or deaths with the revised protocol. Of 9 patients that received tirofiban as a rescue treatment, 7 (77.8%) had complete and 2 (22.2%) had partial arterial recanalization. No thromboembolic events occurred in patients receiving prophylactic tirofiban. CONCLUSION: A bolus followed by a maintenance dose of tirofiban appears to have a high risk of cerebral hemorrhage. A maintenance infusion without an initial bolus, however, has an exceedingly low risk of hemorrhage and appears to be very safe and effective, even in the setting of SAH.