Intravenous vs. Intracoronary Use of Abciximab

STEMI patients with indication for adjuvant therapy with GPI during pPCI, and who gave informed consent, were randomized, using sealed, opaque envelopes, to either IC or IV bolus (0.25 mg/kg body weight) followed by a 12-hour IV infusion of abciximab (0.125 μg/kg body weight per minute). IC bolus of abciximab was delivered via the PCI guiding catheter directly into the culprit artery, whereas IV bolus was given in a peripheral vein, both after filtering of the drug. The drug of use in our centre is Reo-Pro® manufactured by Eli Lilly, Denmark, who had no involvement, economically or scientifically, in the trial.

Inclusion criteria in the present analysis were STEMI (onset of chest pain ≤ 12 hours and ST-segment elevation in two contiguous leads of ≥ 2 mm in V1-V3 or ≥ 1 mm in other leads), age ≥ 18 years and indication for adjuvant therapy with abciximab (e.g. as bail-out in case of no-reflow, high thrombus burden, dissection, or type B2/C lesions) on the operator's discretion.

Exclusion criteria were known allergy to abciximab, ongoing bleeding, recent stroke, major surgery within 2 months, known bleeding disorder, or pregnancy.

All patients were pre-treated with oral Aspirin (300-500 mg) and Clopidogrel (300-600 mg) and 10,000 IU of unfractionated heparin given IV as a single-dose according to national guidelines for STEMI patients referred for pPCI. Patients were discharged with life-long Aspirin in a dose of 75 mg/day and Clopidogrel for 12 months in a dose of 75 mg/day.

In relation to PCI the following data were recorded: infarct localization on ECG and coronary angiography, number of diseased vessels, TIMI flow before and after PCI, lesion type (A, B, C), and type and number of stents implanted.