Routine early versus deferred provisional tirofiban treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

The present study examined the optimal timing of tirofiban administration in moderate- or high-risk non-ST segment elevated acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Eligible patients were randomized into two groups. Tirofiban was administered routinely at ≥ 4 h before angiography (routine early group; n = 141 patients) or provisionally only for bailout after angiography (deferred provisional group; n = 145 patients). The parameters analysed were: creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB), thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow, thrombotic complications during PCI, efficacy end-points (death, myocardial infarction or target vessel revascularization) at 7, 30 and 180 days and safety end-points (bleeding or thrombocytopenia). In the deferred provisional group, 48 patients (33.1%) required bailout tirofiban. Tirofiban was administered 5.8 h earlier in the routine early compared with the deferred provisional group. The routine early group showed a lower percentage increase in CK-MB (in U/L) 12-24 h after PCI compared with the deferred provisional group (0 (-4.0, 3.0) vs 0.4 (-3.0, 5.0), respectively; P = 0.045), as well as higher pre-PCI TIMI 3 (i.e. normal) flow (78.7% vs 64.8%, respectively; P = 0.042) and a lower incidence of thrombotic events (5.0% vs 33.1%, respectively; P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in efficacy and safety end-points. In patients with moderate- or high-risk NSTE-ACS, early tirofiban combined with dual antiplatelet therapy was associated with better patency before PCI, attenuated minor myocardial damage and a lower prevalence of thrombotic complications during PCI, but had no significant benefit on the post-PCI TIMI 3 flow or short-term prognosis.