Efficacy and safety of cangrelor as compared to ticagrelor in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of cangrelor as compared to ticagrelor in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent percutaneous intervention. Methods PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched for relevant head-on-comparison or swapping studies. The primary outcome was the rate of high platelet reactivity (HPR) at specific time intervals after stopping cangrelor infusion during the first 24 h. Secondary outcomes were the risks of thrombosis, all-cause mortality and bleeding. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using random-effects models. Results A total of 1018 studies were screened and eight were included in the analysis. There were four head-on-comparison studies and four swapping studies. There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients achieving a high platelet reactivity in swapping studies [OR, 0.71 (95% CI 0.04, 13.87), p = 0.82, i 2 = 88%]. In head-on-comparison studies, PRU from Fig. 2B shows there was no significant reduction in high platelet reactivity [mean difference – 77.83 (95% CI − 238.84, 83.18), p < 0.001, i 2 = 100%]. PRU results from (Fig. 2C) show a mean difference of 7.38 (95% CI − 29.74, 44.51), p < 0.001, i 2 = 97%. There was no significant difference in the risks of thrombosis [OR, 0.91 (95% CI 0.20, 4.13), p = 0.81, i 2 = 0%], all-cause mortality [OR, 3.52 (95% CI 0.44, 27.91), p = 0.24, i 2 = 26%] and bleeding [OR, 0.89 (95% CI 0.37, 2.17), p = 0.93, i 2 = 0%] between the two groups as revealed in the head-on-comparison studies. Conclusion The efficacy and safety profiles of cangrelor and ticagrelor were similar in patients with STEMI.