The Prophylactic Use of Tirofiban versus Oral Antiplatelet Medications in Stent-Assisted Coiling of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Meta-analysis
Y. Xiang, Hui Zhao, Cheng Ding, Hao Yu Chen, D. Wang, A. Liu
Abstract
<h3>BACKGROUND:</h3> The protocol for optimal antiplatelet therapy to prevent thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications in patients with cerebral aneurysms using an endovascular approach is not clear. <h3>PURPOSE:</h3> Our study analyzed the safety and efficacy of prophylactic tirofiban administration compared with oral antiplatelet drug therapy. <h3>DATA SOURCES:</h3> We used the PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane library data bases. <h3>STUDY SELECTION:</h3> Our study consisted of all case series with >5 patients that reported treatment-related outcomes of patients undergoing endovascular procedures pretreated with tirofiban or oral antiplatelet drug therapy. <h3>DATA ANALYSIS:</h3> Random effects or fixed effects meta-analysis was used to pool the cumulative rate of complications, perioperative mortality, and good clinical outcomes. <h3>DATA SYNTHESIS:</h3> Fifteen studies with 1981 patients were registered. Thromboembolic complications were significantly lower in the tirofiban group (3.6%; 95% CI, 1.9%–5.8%) compared with the dual-antiplatelet therapy group (8.5%, 95% CI, 4.5%–13%; <i>P</i> = .04). Pretreatment with tirofiban did not remarkably increase the rate of hemorrhagic complications (3.5%; 95% CI, 1.8%–5.6%) compared with dual-antiplatelet therapy (5.1%; 95% CI, 2.6%–8.5%; <i>P</i> = .371). There was a trend toward lower perioperative mortality with tirofiban (0.8%; 95% CI, 0.2%–1.6%) compared with dual-antiplatelet therapy (1.2%; 95% CI, 0.7%–2.0%; <i>P</i> = .412). There was no significant difference in the safety and efficacy between the tirofiban bolus plus drip and drip alone. <h3>LIMITATIONS:</h3> The limitations are selection and publication biases. <h3>CONCLUSIONS:</h3> Prophylactic therapy with tirofiban resulted in significantly lower rates of thromboembolic complications with no increase in hemorrhagic events or mortality than the prophylactic use of dual-antiplatelet therapy.