A process for ensuring optimal cardiovascular intervention and identifying candidates for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor therapy

Data from trials with glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors have led to a new standard of care for patients with unstable angina or non–Q-wave myocardial infarction (MI) who are undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Additional data are necessary to compare patient responses to various GP IIb/IIIa agents in a nontrial setting with results from clinical trials. Seton Medical Center has designed a database to accommodate this task. Data from >20,000 patients have been collected since 1979 and the interventional experience from the years 1997 through 1999 has been analyzed for patients who were candidates for receiving these agents. The data are being used to evaluate the outcomes of therapy and to devise models that can stratify patients according to risk, thereby ensuring optimal cardiovascular intervention and choice of the most cost-effective GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor agent.