Which antiplatelet agent is a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor?

Abciximab is classified as a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, which means it directly blocks the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor on platelet surfaces. By inhibiting this receptor, abciximab prevents fibrinogen and other adhesive proteins from binding to activated platelets, thereby reducing platelet aggregation. This mechanism is particularly effective in enhancing the effects of other antiplatelet therapies during percutaneous coronary interventions such as angioplasty, as it provides a powerful means of preventing thrombosis.

In contrast, the other agents listed work through different mechanisms. Ticagrelor and clopidogrel are P2Y12 inhibitors that block adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptors on platelets, reducing platelet activation and aggregation, but they do not affect the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa pathway directly. Aspirin, on the other hand, works by irreversibly inhibiting cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) in platelets, which in turn inhibits the production of thromboxane A2, a potent promoter of platelet aggregation. Each of these agents plays a role in antiplatelet therapy but functions in distinctly different ways, underscoring