Erythropoietin treatment in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In experimental models of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), erythropoietin (EPO) reduces infarct size and improves left ventricular (LV) function. However, in the clinical setting, the effect of EPO in AMI was unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of EPO to explore the safety and therapeutic effects of EPO in patients with AMI.
METHODS: We identified reports of RCTs comparing EPO to placebo for AMI in adult humans in PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, major cardiovascular events, cardiac function by LV ejection fraction and infarct size.
RESULTS: We included 13 articles of RCTs with data for 1,564 patients. Erythropoietin therapy did not improve LV ejection fraction (weighted mean difference [WMD] 0.33, 95% CI -1.90 to 1.24, P = .68) and had no effect on infarct size, as measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (WMD -0.12, -2.16 to 1.91, P = .90) or serum peak value of creatine kinase-MB (WMD -2.01, -25.70 to 21.68, P = .87). Erythropoietin treatment did not decrease the risk of total adverse cardiac events (relative risk [RR] 1.02, 0.65-1.61, P = .92). Erythropoietin treatment also failed to decrease the risk of heart failure (RR, 0.69, 0.27-1.72, P = .42) and all-cause mortality (RR 0.55, 0.22-1.33, P = .18). Moreover, EPO had no effect on the risk of stent thrombosis (RR, 0.69, 0.29-1.64, P = .40).
CONCLUSION:…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,564 participants or records.
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