METHOD FOR REDUCING THROMBOCYTOPENIA AND THROMBOCYTOPENIA-ASSOCIATED MORTALITY
Disclosed are methods for reducing the risk of thrombocytopenia-associated mortality and morbidity, and for reducing the risk of becoming thrombocytopenic, in patients whose treatment requires inhibition of platelet aggregation. The methods involve administration of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of tirofiban.
1 . A method for reducing the risk of thrombocytopenia-associated mortality which comprises administering to a patient suffering from a condition whose treatment requires the inhibition of platelet aggregation a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of tirofiban.
2 . A method for reducing the risk of becoming thrombocytopenic which comprises administering to a patient suffering from a condition whose treatment requires the inhibition of platelet aggregation a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of tirofiban.
3 . A method for reducing the risk of thrombocytopenia-associated morbidity which comprises administering to a patient suffering from a condition whose treatment requires the inhibition of platelet aggregation a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of tirofiban.
4 . The method according to any one of claims 1 - 3 , wherein the tirofiban is administered intravenously as a high-dose bolus followed by a continuous infusion over time.
5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the high-dose bolus is about 25 μg/kg and the continuous infusion is about 0.15 μg/kg/min for about 18-24 hours.
6 . The method according to any one of claims 1 - 3 , wherein tirofiban hydrochloride is administered.
7 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein tirofiban hydrochloride is administered.
8 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein tirofiban hydrochloride is administered.
9 . The method according to claim 1 or 3 , wherein the patient is already thrombocytopenic; prethrombocytopenic or predisposed to thrombocytopenia; or normal in this regard.