Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockers during percutaneous coronary intervention and as the initial medical treatment of non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

During percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and in non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS), the risk of acute vessel occlusion by thrombosis is high. IIb/IIIa blockers strongly inhibit platelet aggregation and may prevent mortality and myocardial infarction (MI). This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 2001, and previously updated in 2007.