Summary

For patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who undergo primary coronary intervention, the addition of abciximab does not enhance the clinical benefits that are provided by pretreatment with high-dose clopidogrel, according to the findings of the Bavarian Reperfusion Alternatives Evaluation-3 [BRAVE-3] trial. Moreover, abciximab increases the risk of adverse clinical outcomes, suggesting that it should not be added to standard antiplatelet therapy in this patient population.