Impact of different platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors among diabetic patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention - Do tirofiban and ReoPro give similar efficacy outcomes trial (TARGET) 1-year follow-up

Background-The platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor abciximab, a monoclonal antibody, has been shown to improve early and late outcomes among diabetic patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). It is unknown whether small-molecule agents confer similar benefits. Methods and Results-In 18 countries, 4809 patients undergoing PCI with stent implantation were randomized to tirofiban or abciximab. At the time of enrollment, patients were stratified according to diabetes status. As compared with non-diabetic patients, patients with diabetes (n=1117) showed similar 30-day ischemic outcomes, an increased incidence of any target vessel revascularization (TVR) at 6 months (10.3% versus 7.8%; P=0.008), and a trend toward higher 1-year mortality (2.5% versus 1.6%; P=0.056). Among diabetic patients randomized to tirofiban (n=560), the incidence of death, myocardial infarction (MI), or urgent TVR at 30 days was 6.2%, and among those randomized to abciximab (n=557) it was 5.4% (hazard ratio [HR] 1.16; P=0.540). At 6 months, the composite of death, MI, or any TVR occurred in 15.7% and in 16.9% of tirofiban and abciximab patients, respectively (HR 0.93; P=0.610). Any TVR occurred in 9.5% and 11.1%, respectively (HR 0.84; P=0.366). The 1-year mortality was 2.1% in the tirofiban group and 2.9% in the abciximab group (HR 0.74; P=0.436). Conclusions-Among diabetic patients undergoing PCI, tirofiban and abciximab were associated with comparable event rates, including similar rates of 6-month TVR and 1-year mortality. These findings suggest that the non-glycoprotein IIb/IIIa properties of abciximab do not translate into a discernible long-term clinical benefit among diabetic patients.