Thrombus Aspiration Plus Intracoronary Abciximab vs Intracoronary Abciximab Alone in Patients with STEMI Undergoing Primary PCI
Authors: Anandan Prem Krishna , Tamilarasu K. , Rajendran G. , Sundaram Shanmuga , Ramasamy P. , Vidyakar R. B. 
Published: November 2019

Background: Thrombus embolization during the Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is common and results in suboptimal myocardial perfusion and increased infarct size. Two strategies proposed to reduce distal embolization and improve outcomes after primary PCI is bolus intracoronary Abciximab and manual aspiration thrombectomy. There are several factors which influence the decision of primary PCI in a patient with AMI in developing countries. Cost of therapy and affordability is probably the most important factor. The additional cost for thrombus aspiration needs to be considered against the additional advantages in terms of better clinical outcome. 

Objectives: To compare the use of a combination of intracoronary Abciximab with manual thrombus aspiration to intracoronary Abciximab alone, in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

Patients and Methods:  This is a prospective observational study of patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI between June 2018 to May 2019. A pre-approved study protocol was designed to determine the eligibility of STEMI patients to be included in the study. Patients with The patients have analysed in two groups: 84 patients received a combination of intracoronary Abciximab with manual thrombus aspiration  &  80 patients received intracoronary Abciximab alone. 

The primary endpoint was the assessment of myocardial perfusion parameters namely Myocardial Blush Grade (MBG) in the culprit vessel & ST-segment resolution of >70% on ECG at 90 min after PCI. Secondary endpoints were the improvement in LV ejection fraction, cardiovascular mortality & recurrent MI at one-month post-procedure.

 Results: Result of the 84 patients who received combination of intracoronary Abciximab with manual thrombus aspiration, the primary endpoints namely the myocardial blush grade (MBG) of 2/3 was achieved in 72 patients (90.74%) & ST-segment resolution of >70% at 90 min was seen in 66 patients (78.57%) (p<0.001). Of the 80 patients who received only intracoronary Abciximab without thrombus aspiration, MBG 2/3 was achieved in 38 patients (47.5%) & ST-segment resolution of >70% at 90 min was seen in 28 patients (35%). At one month of follow up the secondary endpoints namely the LVEF in the combination group improved from 43.42±3.73 to 47.88±4.16% (p=0.12)and in the Abciximab group improved from 44.78±3.34 to 46.20±3.63%. Recurrent MI was seen in one patient in the combination group (p<0.001) & two patients in the ic Abciximab group. There was no cardiovascular mortality noted in the present study (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Intracoronary Abciximab + manual thrombus aspiration reduces thrombus burden with better results in microvascular perfusion assessed by ST-segment resolution of >70% at 90 min & higher Myocardial Blush Grade compared to intracoronary Abciximab alone in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI.