GP2B3A inhibitors are a drug class of blood thinners that include the medications abciximab, tyrophaban, and eptafibetide. In this mnemonic video, we'll cover the important facts you need to know about GP2B3A inhibitors so you'll be ready for the NCLEX. Today we're here to play my favorite game, Mario Kart.
If you're familiar with the game Mario Kart, you'll recognize that we're racing in the Grand Prix. Take a look at the screen and notice that we're here on lap 2 out of 3. By the way, the Grand Prix kind of reminds me of the letters GP, right? Since Grand Prix literally starts with GP.
And the lap 2 out of 3 should remind you of 2B3A. Putting this together, the Grand Prix on lap 2 out of 3 is our memory anchor for GP2B3A. GP-2B3A, or glycoprotein 2B3A, is a molecule on the surface on top of platelets that plays important roles in the formation of platelet plugs to create blood clots. The drugs we'll be talking about today fall under the category of GP-2B3A inhibitors, which means that they target or block this molecule from doing its job. Let's introduce some important drug names that you should know.
Take a look at these ABC blocks. Mom here was trying to get me to play with these ABC blocks, but they're way more boring than video games. Coincidentally, these ABC blocks should help you remember the drug name ab6imab. Get it? Because ab6imab starts with the letters A, B, and C?
Ab6imab is the most common drug used of the GP2B3A inhibitors, but we'll cover the other drug names too. Oh no! In the game, Mario has been eaten by a Tyrannosaurus.
You know that map where a big Tyrannosaurus pops out and eats your vehicle? Well, this Tyrannosaurus should help you remember the drug Tyrophoban. It's the Tyrophoban Tyrannosaurus. Because my racer died in the game, a gravestone has popped up on the screen with an epitaph, telling us to try again.
You bet this epitaph also has a deeper meaning. Yep, it's here to help you remember the drug name Eptifibetide. Get it? Epitaph for Eptifibetide?
Great! Now that we've covered the drug names, let's move on to the clinical uses of these drugs. The young boy is so upset that he got eaten by the Tyrannosaurus that he is slamming his fist onto the nearby table.
This is causing a stack of plates to fall off the table. Here at Pixerize, we use falling plates to symbolize anti-platelet drugs. You know, since plates are a recurring symbol for platelets, falling plates represents the decrease in platelet function caused by anti-platelet drugs. GP-2B3A inhibitors like abciximab, work by preventing platelets from functioning.
Specifically, they block the clumping of platelets to each other in the first step to forming a blood clot. This can be important in the treatment of several diseases, which we'll get to next. To make the ABC blocks more interesting, the babysitter is encouraging the boy to help her paint them red. She's mixing paint thinner with the red paint to keep the paint smooth while they paint. After all, nobody likes painting with clumpy paint.
The way this paint thinner prevents the red paint from clumping or clotting up Reminds me of how abciximab and other GP2b3a inhibitors act as blood thinners, since red paint is kind of like blood, and it's being prevented from clotting up, right? By blocking the function of platelets, drugs like abciximab prevent the blood from clotting. These drugs are particularly useful in preventing clots during coronary artery stenting and during coronary emergencies like unstable angina and myocardial infarctions.
However, preventing the formation of blood clots can obviously cause side effects. Let's talk about that next. The falling plates are shattering on the floor, cutting the leg of the boy throwing a tantrum.
The bleeding here should help you remember the main side effect of abciximab and other GP2B3A inhibitors, bleeding. This should make sense since blocking clotting would obviously leave patients more susceptible to uncontrolled bleeding. As the nurse, be aware of any signs or symptoms of bleeding, like hypotension and tachycardia, a sudden drop in blood pressure, tarry stools or blood in the urine, and so on. Patients taking blood thinners should avoid any unnecessary invasive procedures that could cause bleeding, and their hemoglobin and red blood cell levels should be monitored closely.
Alright, that's all for this mnemonic. Let's recap. Glycoprotein 2b3a inhibitors, or GP2b3a inhibitors for short, include the drugs abciximab, tyrophaban, and eptafibetide. These drugs work as antiplatelet agents, preventing platelets from functioning to aggregate and form clots. This is useful in preventing blood clots from forming during coronary artery stenting and for treating acute coronary syndromes like myocardial infarction or unstable angina.
However, the prevention of blood clots can also cause the side effect of bleeding. Keep a close eye on the patient's CBC levels and report any signs or symptoms of bleeding to the provider. And now we're actually done with GP2B3A inhibitors. Let's get this boy treated and have a go at that last victory lap for Mario Kart. See you next time!
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