Update: Use of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients with unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

DATA SOURCES: Searches were conducted of MEDLINE (1966 to 2006), EMBASE (1980 to April 2006), and the Cochrane's CENTRAL register (Issue 2, 2006), and hand-searched information from cardiology conferences, principal investigators of identified trials, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and other experts in the field were used. There were no language restrictions.

STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials enrolling patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes who initially received GPIIb/IIa inhibitors as part of the early medical management were eligible.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Primary outcomes were 30-day and 6-month mortality and the subsequent development of myocardial infarction; the secondary endpoint was major hemorrhage, defined as intracranial bleeding or any bleeding with a decrease in hemoglobin of greater than 5 g/dL or a greater than 15% reduction in hematocrit level. Data were reported as odds ratios (ORs) with a fixed-effect model if minimal heterogeneity was identified; otherwise, a random-effects model was used. All analyses were presented as intention to treat.