Objectives: To examine the frequency of cerebrovascular complications among patients receiving abciximab (AB) undergoing PCI with prior intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or recent (< 2 years) ischemic strokes.

Background: AB improves clinical outcomes in high-risk patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, the safety of AB in patients with prior stroke has not been adequately studied.

Methods: A database review of 7,244 consecutive PCIs, from 7/97 to 10/01, identified 6,190 PCIs performed with AB among which 515 interventions were performed in patients with prior stroke history [ICH or recent ischemic stroke, (n = 101) and remote (> 2 years) ischemic stroke, (n = 414)].

Results: The post-PCI stroke rate was significantly higher in patients with prior stroke (2.06% vs. 0.35%, p < 0.001 for all stroke; 0.38% vs. 0.03%, p = 0.023 for ICH). The incidence of ICH among the AB-treated group was 0.065%; a history of prior stroke did not increase the incidence of ICH in the AB-treated group (0.39% vs. 0.0%, p = ns). Moreover, the post-PCI stroke rate was similar between the prior ICH or recent ischemic stroke–group and remote ischemic stroke-group (2 vs. 1.9%; OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.21–4.90; p = ns for all strokes; 2% vs. 1.5%; OR: 1.4; 95% CI: 0.27–6.91; p = ns for ischemic stroke). Importantly, no ICH occurred in patients with recent ischemic or any prior ICH stroke.

Conclusions: Abciximab, in addition to aspirin, heparin and ADP-inhibitors does not increase the risk of stroke in patients with prior stroke undergoing PCI.