Background: Despite widespread use of platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of bypass grafts, data supporting this strategy are lacking.
Methods and results: A pooled analysis of 5 randomized intravenous GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor trials (EPIC, EPILOG, EPISTENT, IMPACT II, and PURSUIT) was performed, and outcomes of graft interventions were assessed at 30 days and 6 months. Compared with PCI of native circulation (n=13 158), graft interventions (n=627) were associated with worse outcomes and in particular with a doubling of mortality at 30 days (2.1% versus 1.0%, P=0.006) and 6 months (4.7% versus 2.0%, P<0.001). Revascularization of a graft was identified as an independent predictor of death, myocardial infarction, or revascularization at 6 months (hazard ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.24 to 1.63; P<0.001). Among patients undergoing graft PCI, the incidence of the triple end point at 30 days was 16.5% in the platelet GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor group and 12.6% in the placebo group (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 0.85 to 2.24; P=0.18). At 6 months, 39.4% of patients randomized to GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors and 32.7% of patients allocated to placebo had an ischemic event (hazard ratio, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.72; P=0.07).
Conclusions: Intravenous platelet GP IIb/IIIa receptor inhibition does not improve outcomes after PCI of bypass grafts. In the absence of mechanical emboli protection, this procedure is associated with high incidence of death and nonfatal ischemic events.