The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7215 p352
14 September 2002

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National Institute for Clinical Excellence (www.nice.org.uk)

NICE glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor guidance updated

Guidance on the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors has been reviewed and updated by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. The updated guidance, issued last week, revises the definition of high-risk patients who should be given these drugs to take into account combinations of risk factors and to now include the clinical history of the patient.

Previously, the guidance suggested that high-risk patients should be identified from the results of clinical tests such as the cardiac tropin test (PJ, 7 October 2000, p509). NICE says that it does not expect that any increase in costs to the National Health Service will arise from implementing the revised guidance.