This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of intracoronary (IC) low-dose tirofiban versus intravenous (IV) administration on clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

All published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of IC low-dose tirofiban (a bolus of ≤10 ug/kg) versus IV administration in patients with STEMI were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Science from inception to June 2023, with no language restriction. The risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and the weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% CI were calculated.

Eleven RCTs involving 1,802 patients were included. Compared with the IV group, IC low-dose tirofiban was associated with improved major adverse cardiac events rate (RR 0.595, 95% CI 0.442–0.802; p=0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (WMD 1.982, 95% CI 0.565–3.398; p=0.006), thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade (RR 1.065, 95% CI 1.004–1.131; p=0.037), and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (RR 1.194, 95% CI 1.001–1.425; p=0.049). The two groups had no significant difference in bleeding events (RR 0.952, 95% CI 0.709–1.279; p=0.745).

Intracoronary low-dose tirofiban administration may be a safe and effective alternative to IV administration in STEMI patients.