ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of triple antiplatelet therapy (TAT:aspirin, clopidogrel and cilostazol) for patients with coronary heart diseases after percutaneous coronary intervention. MethodsSuch databases as The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2014), PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data were electronically searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy and safety of TAT for patients with coronary heart diseases after percutaneous coronary intervention from inception to February 2014. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsA total of 15 RCTs involved 6 980 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that:a) the DAT group (DAT:aspirin and clopidogrel) and the TAT group were similar in non-fatal myocardial infarction (OR=0.72, 95%CI 0.47 to 1.10, P=0.05), stroke (OR=0.66, 95%CI 0.38 to 1.16, P=0.15), and hemorrhage (OR=1.03, 95%CI 0.74 to 1.44, P=0.85) with no significant difference; b) the TAT group was superior to the DAT group in reducing the incidences of the major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (OR=0.50, 95%CI 0.39 to 0.65, P < 0.000 01), cardiac death (OR=0.53, 95%CI 0.33 to 0.84, P=0.007), stent thrombosis (OR=0.52, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.99, P=0.05), target vessel revascularization (OR=0.63, 95%CI 0.51 to 0.76, P < 0.000 01), and target lesion revascularization (OR=0.44, 95%CI 0.28 to 0.70, P=0.000 6); and c) no significant difference was found between the two groups in the incidences of thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, and liver damage. The DAT group was superior to the TAT group in gastrointestinal reaction, palpitations, headache, and skin rashes between the two groups, with significant differences. ConclusionTAT therapy has good efficacy and safety in the treatment of patients with coronary heart diseases after percutaneous coronary intervention.