====== Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa ======

[[Glycoprotein]] IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa, also known as integrin αIIbβ3) is an [[integrin]] complex found on platelets. It is a receptor for fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor and aids platelet activation. The complex is formed via calcium-dependent association of gpIIb and gpIIIa, a required step in normal platelet aggregation and endothelial adherence.

Platelet activation by ADP (blocked by clopidogrel) leads to the aforementioned conformational change in platelet gpIIb/IIIa receptors that induces binding to fibrinogen.

The gpIIb/IIIa receptor is a target of several drugs including abciximab, eptifibatide, [[tirofiban]].

IIb/IIIa inhibitors are an alternative for achieving recanalization. The risk of hemorrhage may be low. As part of an escalating protocol that includes pharmacological and mechanical thrombolysis, IIb/IIIa inhibitors may improve clinical outcomes
((Deshmukh VR, Fiorella DJ, Albuquerque FC, Frey J, Flaster M, Wallace RC,
Spetzler RF, McDougall CG. Intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke:
preliminary experience with platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors as
adjunctive therapy. Neurosurgery. 2005;56(1):46-54; discussion 54-5. PubMed PMID:
15617585.
)).