Eptifibatide is a drug that antagonizes the platelet GPIIb-IIIa receptor. What physiological process does this antagonism primarily affect?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the primary physiological process affected by eptifibatide, a drug that antagonizes the platelet GPIIb-IIIa receptor. This basically means we need to know what GPIIb-IIIa receptors do in the body and how blocking them with the drug impacts various physiological processes like coagulation, inflammation, vasoconstriction, and vasodilation.
Answer
Eptifibatide primarily affects platelet aggregation.
The antagonism of the platelet GPIIb-IIIa receptor by eptifibatide primarily affects platelet aggregation, preventing thrombus formation.
Answer for screen readers
The antagonism of the platelet GPIIb-IIIa receptor by eptifibatide primarily affects platelet aggregation, preventing thrombus formation.
More Information
Eptifibatide is a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, it blocks different pathways in platelet activation and aggregation. By blocking this receptor, eptifibatide inhibits the binding of fibrinogen, which is necessary for platelets to aggregate and form clots.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse the mechanism with a related downstream effect, such as reduced risk of heart attack, rather than the direct process of platelet aggregation.
Sources
- GPIIb/IIIa antagonists - sciencedirect.com
- Eptifibatide - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Eptifibatide: Uses, Interactions, Mechanism of Action - DrugBank - go.drugbank.com
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