Comparison by Meta-Analysis of Eptifibatide and Tirofiban to Abciximab in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated With Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology 2010-07, Vol.106 (2), p.167-174.e1
• Main Authors: Ottani, Filippo, MD, La Vecchia, Luigi, MD, De Vita, Maria, MD, PhD, Catapano, Ottorino, MD, Tarantino, Fabio, MD, Galvani, Marcello, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Angioplasty; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Clinical trials; Comparative studies; Coronary heart disease; Diseases of the cardiovascular system; Drug therapy; Electrocardiography; Female; Heart; Heart attacks; Humans; Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Meta-analysis; Middle Aged; Molecules; Myocardial Infarction - therapy; Myocarditis. Cardiomyopathies; Peptides - therapeutic use; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Treatment Outcome; Tyrosine - analogs & derivatives; Tyrosine - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2010.03.012

Adjunctive therapy with abciximab during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) determines a better short-term outcome compared to placebo. Tirofiban and eptifibatide represent a valid option with lower cost, but these have been less studied. The aim of the present study was to combine all randomized trials and registries to demonstrate the noninferiority of tirofiban and eptifibatide compared to abciximab in patients with STEMI treated with PPCI. We identified 6 randomized trials and 4 registries. Overall, 4,653 received small molecules and 2,696 abciximab, and the rate of combined death and nonfatal reinfarction did not differ (4.6% vs 4.5%, odds ratio 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78 to 1.27, p = 0.95) up to 30 days of follow-up, with an absolute difference of 0.1% (95% CI −1.06 to 0.8). Because the noninferiority limit was set at +1.5%, and because the upper point estimate (0.8%) of the 95% CI did not cross the prespecified limit, the noninferiority of the small molecules was documented. In-hospital major bleeding was also similar (8.8% vs 6.1%, odds ratio 0.92, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.13, p = 0.43). Sensitivity analysis comparing randomized trials to registries and tirofiban or eptifibatide to abciximab did not show any significant differences. In conclusion, our results documented noninferiority of “small molecules” compared to abciximab and, therefore, support their alternative use as adjunctive therapy during PPCI for patients with STEMI.