Five RCTs were included in the meta-analysis (n=5,303 patients). Sample size ranged from 96 to 2,159 patients. Follow-up ranged from 30 days to one year. Publication bias was reported to be absent.
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors did not statistically significantly reduce all-cause mortality (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.22, p=0.35; five RCTs), post-procedure myocardial infarction (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.69 to 1.08, p=0.19; four RCTs) or TVR (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.15, p=0.6; three RCTs) compared to control.
Treatment with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors was associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk of major and minor bleeding compared to control (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.75, p=0.02; five RCTs). Subgroup analyses revealed that there was a statistically significant increase in bleeding with abciximab compared to control (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.78, p=0.05; three RCTs), but not with tirofiban compared to control (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.77 to 2.57, p=0.26; two RCTs).
There was no evidence of heterogeneity in any of the analyses.