Effects of erythropoietin on the clinical outcomes of patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention: A meta-analysis

Aims: To investigate the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on the clinical outcomes of patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Material and methods: We collected randomized controlled studies conducted before April 15, 2017, and performed a meta-analysis using RevMan5.3 software. Results: Compared with the conventional revascularization group, mortality (RR = 0.79; 95% C1. 0.42 - 1.50; p = 0.47). stroke events (RR = 2.63: 95% C1. 0.70 - 9.85; p = 0.15), recurrent myocardial infarction (RR = 0.99; 95% C1, 0.44 - 2.20; p = 0.98), and other clinical endpoints were not significantly different in the EPO group. However, subgroup analy sis showed a marginally significant difference between the high-dose EPO group and the control group (MD = 1.29; 95% C1. 0.02 - 2.56; p = 0.05) in ejection fraction. Conclusion: The administration of EPO has no effects on the clinical outcomes of patients with acute STEMI after PCI, whilst a high dose of EPO may increase patients' ejection fraction.