Thrombus aspiration combined with intra-coronary injection of Tirofiban for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: its influence on myocardial reperfusion

Objective: To explore the influence of thrombus aspiration combined with intra-coronary administration of the glycoprotein Ⅱ b/Ⅲ a inhibitor, Tirofiban, on myocardial microcirculation when percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is employed for the treatment of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Methods: During the period from April 2008 to June 2010, percutaneous coronary interventional was performed in 184 consecutive patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The patients were randomly divided into study group (n=78) and control group (n=106). Thrombus aspiration combined with intra-coronary administration of Tirofiban was used in patients of study group, while routine PCI together with intravenous administration of Tirofiban was adopted in patients of control group. Clinical features, TIMI grade, myocardial blush grade, ratio of ST falling >70% at 24 hours after treatment, incidence of massive haemorrhage, hospitalization, days, major adverse cardiac event within 30 days were observed, and the results were compared between two groups. Results: The incidence of no reflow phenomenon in study group was markedly lower than that in control group (5.67% vs. 21.14%, P=0.011), while the myocardial blush grade was much higher in study group than that in control group (2.03±0.32 vs. 1.12±0.47, P=0.021). The ratio of ST falling > 70% at 24 hours after treatment in study group was increased (94% vs. 85%, P=0.003), and the occurrence of perioperative massive haemorrhage was lower (9% vs. 4%, P=0.03). The incidence of major adverse cardiac event within 30 days was distinctly decreased although it was quite similar in both groups (5.5% vs. 6.1%, P=0.786). Conclusion: Thrombus aspiration combined with intra-coronary administration of Tirofiban is superior to conventional PCI in effectively improving the reperfusion of myocardial microcirculation and in reliably reducing perioperative risk. (authors)