Primary stenting and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in acute myocardial infarction

Early patency of the infarct-related vessel improves in-hospital and long-term survival. Mechanical reopening is as effective as or superior to pharmacological therapy in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. However, in patients treated with primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, recurrent ischemia occurs in 10% to 15% before hospital discharge, and angiographic restenosis occurs in 30% to 50% of infarct- related vessel within 6 months. Primary stenting in acute myocardial infarction has been found to be safe and feasible and reduces early and late events. In particular, restenosis rate has been found to be lowered by stent implantation. Use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors alone has resulted in infarct-related vessel patency rates approximately the same as with the use of thrombolytic therapy. Furthermore, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockers reduce the occurrence of acute complications during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Preliminary results of some ongoing trials showed that the combined therapeutic approach (ie, primary stenting plus glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors) in patients with acute myocardial infarction reduces both early and late complications of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. This finding supports the concept that optimal mechanical resolution of the plaque and the inhibition of platelet aggregation are the key of the treatment of the infarct-related vessel.