Role of Abciximab in the Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

[Ann Emerg Med. 2009;53:392-394.]Systematic Review SourceThis is a systematic review abstract, a regular feature of the Annals' Evidence-Based Emergency Medicine (EBEM) series. Each features an abstract of a systematic review from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and a commentary by an emergency physician knowledgeable in the subject area.The source for this systematic review abstract is: Ciccone A, Abraha I, Santilli I. Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors for acute ischaemic stroke. Cochrane Review 2006; Issue 4. Chichester, UK: John Wiley and Sons. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD005208.pub2.The Annals' EBEM editors helped prepare the abstract of this Cochrane systematic review, as well as the Evidence-Based Medicine Teaching Points.ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors in the management of acute ischemic stroke and evaluate whether early administration improves the outcome. The results of single therapy or treatment in conjunction with thrombolytic agents were also examined.Data SourcesThe Cochrane Stroke Group trials register was searched up to May 2005, as well as the following electronic databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trails (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to 2005) and EMBASE (1980 to 2005). Relevant reference lists were searched. Trial authors and pharmaceutical companies were also contacted to identify further published, unpublished, and ongoing trials. Pharmaceutical companies contacted included Centocor Inc. Malvern, Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Sharp & Dhome, and Roche.Study SelectionUnconfounded randomized controlled trials examining glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors in the management of acute ischemic stroke were considered for this review. Patients of any age with definite acute ischemic stroke were selected and only studies in which treatment using glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors was initiated within 6 hours of symptom onset were included. Any glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitor, irrespective of agent, duration of treatment, dosage, or route of administration, was considered.Outcome variables analyzed were efficacy and safety. Efficacy was measured by death or severe disability (modified Rankin scale 3 to 6) at follow-up performed at 3 months or longer after stroke. Safety was estimated by death and evidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and major extracranial hemorrhage.Data Extraction and AnalysisTitles identified by the search were reviewed independently by 3 reviewers, and relevance to the meta-analysis was recorded. The method of randomization, blinding of outcome evaluators, balance of baseline prognostic factors (age, stroke severity, and time from stroke onset), and whether all the randomized patients were accounted for in the analysis were independently extracted.Concealment of allocation, blinding in outcome evaluation, intention-to-treat analysis, and balance of baseline prognostic factors were evaluated and graded as present, absent, or unclear. The 4 criteria to assess quality were used to derive an overall assessment of validity for each study.Main ResultsTwo trials (Abciximab Emergent Stroke Treatment Trial [ESTT]1Abciximab (ReoProO) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial-AbESTT British Columbia Centre for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.http://www.bcstrokecentre.caGoogle Scholar, 2Abciximab Emergent Stroke Treatment Trial (AbESTT) InvestigatorsEmergency administration of Abciximab for treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke Results of a randomized phase 2 trial.Stroke. 2005; 36: 880-890Crossref PubMed Scopus (158) Google Scholar; Adams et al3Adams H.P. Bogousslavsky J. Leclerc J.R. et al.Abciximab in Ischemic Stroke Study GroupAbciximab (REOPRO TM) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation study. American Heart Association, Orlando, FL1998Google Scholar) involving a total of 474 patients were included. Nine studies were excluded. Five relevant ongoing trials were identified (AbESTT-II4AbESTT-II InvestigatorsAbciximab in Emergent Stroke Treatment trial-II (AbESTT-II): results of a randomized, double-blind placebo-control phase 3 study.2006Google Scholar; Cheung5Cheung R.T.F. Ho D.S.W. Fatal hemorrhagic transformation of acute cerebral infarction after the use of Abciximab.Stroke. 2000; 31: 2518-2519PubMed Google Scholar; Combined Approach to Lyss utilizing eptifibatide and rt-PA in acute Ischemic stroke [CLEAR] trial6Pancioli A. CLEAR Stroke Trial InvestigatorsThe CLEAR Stroke Trial: blinded results from the first dose tier.Stroke. 2005; 36 ([abstract]): 446Google Scholar; Safety of Tirofiban in Acute Ischemic Stroke [SaTIS]7Siebler M. Fiebach K. Hamann G.F. et al.Safety of Tirofiban in acute Ischemic Stroke (SaTIS).Stroke. 2003; 34: E20Crossref PubMed Google Scholar; Study of Efficacy of Tirofiban in Acute Ischemic Stroke [SETIS]8Torgano G. Mandelli C. Zecca B. Study of efficacy of tirofiban in acute ischemic stroke (SETIS).Stroke. 2004; 35: e366Google Scholar for future update of the review.Both the included trials compared the effects of intravenous abciximab to a placebo. The AbESTT study used a dose of 0.25 mg/kg bolus followed by a 0.125 mg/kg per minute infusion for 12 hours, and the Adams et al3Adams H.P. Bogousslavsky J. Leclerc J.R. et al.Abciximab in Ischemic Stroke Study GroupAbciximab (REOPRO TM) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation study. American Heart Association, Orlando, FL1998Google Scholar study was a dose escalation study; 4 dose tiers of abciximab were evaluated against placebo.The median National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Scale score in the patients was 9 for the AbESTT trial and 15 for the Adams et al3Adams H.P. Bogousslavsky J. Leclerc J.R. et al.Abciximab in Ischemic Stroke Study GroupAbciximab (REOPRO TM) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation study. American Heart Association, Orlando, FL1998Google Scholar study.The Table provides a summary of the 2 trials and their outcomes.TableCombined meta-analysis (n=474).Outcome MeasuresEffect Measure (95% CI)CommentsEfficacyDeath or dependencyOR=0.79(0.54–1.17)InconclusiveSafetyDeath from all causes at the end of follow-upOR=0.67(0.36–1.25)InconclusiveSymptomatic intracranial hemorrhageOR=4.13(0.86–19.67)Inconclusive; however, the trend to increased intracranial bleeding is concerning.Major extracranial hemorrhageOR=1.51(0.25–9.12)InconclusiveThrombocytopeniaProportions:6.3% (1.7–14.3)1Abciximab (ReoProO) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial-AbESTT British Columbia Centre for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.http://www.bcstrokecentre.caGoogle Scholar1.5% (0.1–3.0)2Abciximab Emergent Stroke Treatment Trial (AbESTT) InvestigatorsEmergency administration of Abciximab for treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke Results of a randomized phase 2 trial.Stroke. 2005; 36: 880-890Crossref PubMed Scopus (158) Google ScholarInconclusive; data only available for treatment groups.CI, Confidence interval; OR, odds ratio. Open table in a new tab ConclusionsMeta-analysis of the pooled data does not support the routine use of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors for patients with acute ischemic stroke. The benefits and adverse effects may be clarified after the publication of the 5 ongoing trials.Systematic Review Author ContactAlfonso Ciccone, MDDepartment of NeurosciencesMilano, ItalyE-mail[email protected]Commentary: Clinical ImplicationDespite decades of study, patient delay in seeking treatment for acute ischemic stroke symptoms remains the major impediment to receiving early, definitive treatment, as reported by the American Stroke Association in 2006.9Moser D.K. Kimble L.P. Alberts M.J. et al.Reducing delay in seeking treatment by patients with acute coronary syndrome and stroke: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association on Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and Stroke Council.Circulation. 2006; 114: 168-182Crossref PubMed Scopus (461) Google Scholar Today the accepted pharmacologic treatments for acute ischemic stroke include aspirin administration once hemorrhagic stroke has been ruled out10National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; rt-PA Stroke Study GroupTissue plasminogen activator for acute ischemic stroke.N Engl J Med. 1995; 333: 1581-1587Crossref PubMed Scopus (10021) Google Scholar and thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in nonhemorrhagic stroke less than 3 hours old.10National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; rt-PA Stroke Study GroupTissue plasminogen activator for acute ischemic stroke.N Engl J Med. 1995; 333: 1581-1587Crossref PubMed Scopus (10021) Google Scholar After Food and Drug Administration approval,11FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and ResearchClinical review for PLA 96-0350.1996Google Scholar there has been suboptimal use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator because of delayed patient presentation. There have also been concerns about safety because treatment is associated with a 6.4% risk of intracerebral hemorrhage.12Weintraub M.I. Thrombolysis (tissue plasminogen activator) in stroke: a medicolegal quagmire.Stroke. 2006; 37: 1917-1922Crossref PubMed Scopus (93) Google ScholarAgents that inhibit the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa receptor have been shown to be effective inhibitors of platelet aggregation and thrombus formation and have the potential to be effective in acute strokes. Randomized clinical trials have shown that glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors effectively reduced life-threatening complications in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention or presenting with an acute coronary syndrome.13Kong D.F. Califf R.M. Miller D.P. et al.Clinical outcomes of therapeutic agents that block the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa integrin in ischemic heart disease.Circulation. 1998; 98: 2829-2835Crossref PubMed Scopus (347) Google Scholar Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors are now under investigation for acute ischemic stroke and are being evaluated either alone or with other treatments, within or beyond the 3-hour “therapeutic window” of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator.Using comprehensive searches and an unbiased selection process, this Cochrane review summarizes the efficacy and safety of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors in patients with acute ischemic stroke either alone or combined with thrombolytic agents. Using evidence from 2 trials involving a total of 474 patients, the authors concluded that the available evidence does not support the routine use of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors.Of the studies included in this review, both were classified as high quality (ie, low risk of bias). Therefore, quality does not help to explain the nonsignificant results reported in this review. The efficacy results need to be interpreted with caution because the number of patients included in all trials remains relatively small. The AbESTT-II, a relevant ongoing trial identified by the reviewers, stopped recruitment of patients because of excess intracranial hemorrhages in the treatment group and an unfavorable risk:benefit ratio.Take-Home MessageBecause of an aging population and ongoing community education to promote early presentation, emergency physicians can expect to encounter more patients with symptoms compatible with stroke in the future. According to this review, there is insufficient evidence to recommend glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors as safe and efficacious treatments for acute ischemic stroke. It is expected that the publication of ongoing multicenter trials will provide more precision about the role of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors in the management of acute ischemic stroke.EBEM Commentator ContactLatha G. Stead, MDDivision of Emergency Medicine ResearchMayo Clinic College of MedicineRochester, MNE-mail[email protected]EBEM Teaching PointImportance of unconfounded randomized controlled trialsA randomized controlled trial is an experiment in which 1 or more interventions are compared to a control, placebo, or no intervention treatment and assignment to intervention is performed randomly. One of the strengths of a randomized controlled trial is that it assigns treatment without knowledge of patient factors. Therefore, the design attempts to balance the known and unknown confounders among the treatment groups. A confounder is a factor that is associated with both the intervention (or treatment) and the outcome of interest. For example, if the ages of patients vary between the intervention arms, it may be difficult to decide whether a lower risk of death in one group is due to the intervention or the difference in ages. Age is then referred to as a confounder, or a confounding variable. For a comparison to be unconfounded, the 2 treatment groups must be treated identically except for the intervention itself and the intervention groups must be balanced in the measured confounders.Confounding is a major concern in all experiments; however, this concern is even higher in nonrandomized studies. For instance, to estimate the effect of heparin in acute stroke, a randomized controlled trial of acetylsalicylic acid+heparin versus acetylsalicylic acid+placebo-heparin would provide an unconfounded comparison, as long as the groups were balanced. However, a cohort study in which heparin and acetylsalicylic acid-treated patients were compared with those with acetylsalicylic acid alone would likely provide a confounded comparison of the effect of heparin.The importance of an unconfounded randomized controlled trial is in its ability to provide a valid estimate of treatment effect. Despite efforts to balance the known and unknown confounders in a randomized controlled trial, the design is not without fault and imbalance may occur. This is particularly true in small randomized controlled trials (especially in those in which block randomization is not used), or it may be due to chance. In cases in which an imbalance is identified among groups on suspected confounding factors, an adjusted analysis is recommended to confirm the univariate results. [Ann Emerg Med. 2009;53:392-394.] Systematic Review SourceThis is a systematic review abstract, a regular feature of the Annals' Evidence-Based Emergency Medicine (EBEM) series. Each features an abstract of a systematic review from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and a commentary by an emergency physician knowledgeable in the subject area.The source for this systematic review abstract is: Ciccone A, Abraha I, Santilli I. Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors for acute ischaemic stroke. Cochrane Review 2006; Issue 4. Chichester, UK: John Wiley and Sons. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD005208.pub2.The Annals' EBEM editors helped prepare the abstract of this Cochrane systematic review, as well as the Evidence-Based Medicine Teaching Points. This is a systematic review abstract, a regular feature of the Annals' Evidence-Based Emergency Medicine (EBEM) series. Each features an abstract of a systematic review from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and a commentary by an emergency physician knowledgeable in the subject area. The source for this systematic review abstract is: Ciccone A, Abraha I, Santilli I. Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors for acute ischaemic stroke. Cochrane Review 2006; Issue 4. Chichester, UK: John Wiley and Sons. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD005208.pub2. The Annals' EBEM editors helped prepare the abstract of this Cochrane systematic review, as well as the Evidence-Based Medicine Teaching Points. ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors in the management of acute ischemic stroke and evaluate whether early administration improves the outcome. The results of single therapy or treatment in conjunction with thrombolytic agents were also examined. To assess the efficacy and safety of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors in the management of acute ischemic stroke and evaluate whether early administration improves the outcome. The results of single therapy or treatment in conjunction with thrombolytic agents were also examined. Data SourcesThe Cochrane Stroke Group trials register was searched up to May 2005, as well as the following electronic databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trails (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to 2005) and EMBASE (1980 to 2005). Relevant reference lists were searched. Trial authors and pharmaceutical companies were also contacted to identify further published, unpublished, and ongoing trials. Pharmaceutical companies contacted included Centocor Inc. Malvern, Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Sharp & Dhome, and Roche. The Cochrane Stroke Group trials register was searched up to May 2005, as well as the following electronic databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trails (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to 2005) and EMBASE (1980 to 2005). Relevant reference lists were searched. Trial authors and pharmaceutical companies were also contacted to identify further published, unpublished, and ongoing trials. Pharmaceutical companies contacted included Centocor Inc. Malvern, Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck Sharp & Dhome, and Roche. Study SelectionUnconfounded randomized controlled trials examining glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors in the management of acute ischemic stroke were considered for this review. Patients of any age with definite acute ischemic stroke were selected and only studies in which treatment using glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors was initiated within 6 hours of symptom onset were included. Any glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitor, irrespective of agent, duration of treatment, dosage, or route of administration, was considered.Outcome variables analyzed were efficacy and safety. Efficacy was measured by death or severe disability (modified Rankin scale 3 to 6) at follow-up performed at 3 months or longer after stroke. Safety was estimated by death and evidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and major extracranial hemorrhage. Unconfounded randomized controlled trials examining glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors in the management of acute ischemic stroke were considered for this review. Patients of any age with definite acute ischemic stroke were selected and only studies in which treatment using glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors was initiated within 6 hours of symptom onset were included. Any glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitor, irrespective of agent, duration of treatment, dosage, or route of administration, was considered. Outcome variables analyzed were efficacy and safety. Efficacy was measured by death or severe disability (modified Rankin scale 3 to 6) at follow-up performed at 3 months or longer after stroke. Safety was estimated by death and evidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and major extracranial hemorrhage. Data Extraction and AnalysisTitles identified by the search were reviewed independently by 3 reviewers, and relevance to the meta-analysis was recorded. The method of randomization, blinding of outcome evaluators, balance of baseline prognostic factors (age, stroke severity, and time from stroke onset), and whether all the randomized patients were accounted for in the analysis were independently extracted.Concealment of allocation, blinding in outcome evaluation, intention-to-treat analysis, and balance of baseline prognostic factors were evaluated and graded as present, absent, or unclear. The 4 criteria to assess quality were used to derive an overall assessment of validity for each study. Titles identified by the search were reviewed independently by 3 reviewers, and relevance to the meta-analysis was recorded. The method of randomization, blinding of outcome evaluators, balance of baseline prognostic factors (age, stroke severity, and time from stroke onset), and whether all the randomized patients were accounted for in the analysis were independently extracted. Concealment of allocation, blinding in outcome evaluation, intention-to-treat analysis, and balance of baseline prognostic factors were evaluated and graded as present, absent, or unclear. The 4 criteria to assess quality were used to derive an overall assessment of validity for each study. Main ResultsTwo trials (Abciximab Emergent Stroke Treatment Trial [ESTT]1Abciximab (ReoProO) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial-AbESTT British Columbia Centre for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.http://www.bcstrokecentre.caGoogle Scholar, 2Abciximab Emergent Stroke Treatment Trial (AbESTT) InvestigatorsEmergency administration of Abciximab for treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke Results of a randomized phase 2 trial.Stroke. 2005; 36: 880-890Crossref PubMed Scopus (158) Google Scholar; Adams et al3Adams H.P. Bogousslavsky J. Leclerc J.R. et al.Abciximab in Ischemic Stroke Study GroupAbciximab (REOPRO TM) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation study. American Heart Association, Orlando, FL1998Google Scholar) involving a total of 474 patients were included. Nine studies were excluded. Five relevant ongoing trials were identified (AbESTT-II4AbESTT-II InvestigatorsAbciximab in Emergent Stroke Treatment trial-II (AbESTT-II): results of a randomized, double-blind placebo-control phase 3 study.2006Google Scholar; Cheung5Cheung R.T.F. Ho D.S.W. Fatal hemorrhagic transformation of acute cerebral infarction after the use of Abciximab.Stroke. 2000; 31: 2518-2519PubMed Google Scholar; Combined Approach to Lyss utilizing eptifibatide and rt-PA in acute Ischemic stroke [CLEAR] trial6Pancioli A. CLEAR Stroke Trial InvestigatorsThe CLEAR Stroke Trial: blinded results from the first dose tier.Stroke. 2005; 36 ([abstract]): 446Google Scholar; Safety of Tirofiban in Acute Ischemic Stroke [SaTIS]7Siebler M. Fiebach K. Hamann G.F. et al.Safety of Tirofiban in acute Ischemic Stroke (SaTIS).Stroke. 2003; 34: E20Crossref PubMed Google Scholar; Study of Efficacy of Tirofiban in Acute Ischemic Stroke [SETIS]8Torgano G. Mandelli C. Zecca B. Study of efficacy of tirofiban in acute ischemic stroke (SETIS).Stroke. 2004; 35: e366Google Scholar for future update of the review.Both the included trials compared the effects of intravenous abciximab to a placebo. The AbESTT study used a dose of 0.25 mg/kg bolus followed by a 0.125 mg/kg per minute infusion for 12 hours, and the Adams et al3Adams H.P. Bogousslavsky J. Leclerc J.R. et al.Abciximab in Ischemic Stroke Study GroupAbciximab (REOPRO TM) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation study. American Heart Association, Orlando, FL1998Google Scholar study was a dose escalation study; 4 dose tiers of abciximab were evaluated against placebo.The median National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Scale score in the patients was 9 for the AbESTT trial and 15 for the Adams et al3Adams H.P. Bogousslavsky J. Leclerc J.R. et al.Abciximab in Ischemic Stroke Study GroupAbciximab (REOPRO TM) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation study. American Heart Association, Orlando, FL1998Google Scholar study.The Table provides a summary of the 2 trials and their outcomes.TableCombined meta-analysis (n=474).Outcome MeasuresEffect Measure (95% CI)CommentsEfficacyDeath or dependencyOR=0.79(0.54–1.17)InconclusiveSafetyDeath from all causes at the end of follow-upOR=0.67(0.36–1.25)InconclusiveSymptomatic intracranial hemorrhageOR=4.13(0.86–19.67)Inconclusive; however, the trend to increased intracranial bleeding is concerning.Major extracranial hemorrhageOR=1.51(0.25–9.12)InconclusiveThrombocytopeniaProportions:6.3% (1.7–14.3)1Abciximab (ReoProO) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial-AbESTT British Columbia Centre for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.http://www.bcstrokecentre.caGoogle Scholar1.5% (0.1–3.0)2Abciximab Emergent Stroke Treatment Trial (AbESTT) InvestigatorsEmergency administration of Abciximab for treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke Results of a randomized phase 2 trial.Stroke. 2005; 36: 880-890Crossref PubMed Scopus (158) Google ScholarInconclusive; data only available for treatment groups.CI, Confidence interval; OR, odds ratio. Open table in a new tab Two trials (Abciximab Emergent Stroke Treatment Trial [ESTT]1Abciximab (ReoProO) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial-AbESTT British Columbia Centre for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.http://www.bcstrokecentre.caGoogle Scholar, 2Abciximab Emergent Stroke Treatment Trial (AbESTT) InvestigatorsEmergency administration of Abciximab for treatment of patients with acute ischemic stroke Results of a randomized phase 2 trial.Stroke. 2005; 36: 880-890Crossref PubMed Scopus (158) Google Scholar; Adams et al3Adams H.P. Bogousslavsky J. Leclerc J.R. et al.Abciximab in Ischemic Stroke Study GroupAbciximab (REOPRO TM) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation study. American Heart Association, Orlando, FL1998Google Scholar) involving a total of 474 patients were included. Nine studies were excluded. Five relevant ongoing trials were identified (AbESTT-II4AbESTT-II InvestigatorsAbciximab in Emergent Stroke Treatment trial-II (AbESTT-II): results of a randomized, double-blind placebo-control phase 3 study.2006Google Scholar; Cheung5Cheung R.T.F. Ho D.S.W. Fatal hemorrhagic transformation of acute cerebral infarction after the use of Abciximab.Stroke. 2000; 31: 2518-2519PubMed Google Scholar; Combined Approach to Lyss utilizing eptifibatide and rt-PA in acute Ischemic stroke [CLEAR] trial6Pancioli A. CLEAR Stroke Trial InvestigatorsThe CLEAR Stroke Trial: blinded results from the first dose tier.Stroke. 2005; 36 ([abstract]): 446Google Scholar; Safety of Tirofiban in Acute Ischemic Stroke [SaTIS]7Siebler M. Fiebach K. Hamann G.F. et al.Safety of Tirofiban in acute Ischemic Stroke (SaTIS).Stroke. 2003; 34: E20Crossref PubMed Google Scholar; Study of Efficacy of Tirofiban in Acute Ischemic Stroke [SETIS]8Torgano G. Mandelli C. Zecca B. Study of efficacy of tirofiban in acute ischemic stroke (SETIS).Stroke. 2004; 35: e366Google Scholar for future update of the review. Both the included trials compared the effects of intravenous abciximab to a placebo. The AbESTT study used a dose of 0.25 mg/kg bolus followed by a 0.125 mg/kg per minute infusion for 12 hours, and the Adams et al3Adams H.P. Bogousslavsky J. Leclerc J.R. et al.Abciximab in Ischemic Stroke Study GroupAbciximab (REOPRO TM) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation study. American Heart Association, Orlando, FL1998Google Scholar study was a dose escalation study; 4 dose tiers of abciximab were evaluated against placebo. The median National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Scale score in the patients was 9 for the AbESTT trial and 15 for the Adams et al3Adams H.P. Bogousslavsky J. Leclerc J.R. et al.Abciximab in Ischemic Stroke Study GroupAbciximab (REOPRO TM) in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, double-blind, dose-escalation study. American Heart Association, Orlando, FL1998Google Scholar study. The Table provides a summary of the 2 trials and their outcomes. CI, Confidence interval; OR, odds ratio. ConclusionsMeta-analysis of the pooled data does not support the routine use of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors for patients with acute ischemic stroke. The benefits and adverse effects may be clarified after the publication of the 5 ongoing trials.Systematic Review Author ContactAlfonso Ciccone, MDDepartment of NeurosciencesMilano, ItalyE-mail[email protected] Meta-analysis of the pooled data does not support the routine use of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors for patients with acute ischemic stroke. The benefits and adverse effects may be clarified after the publication of the 5 ongoing trials.