Comparison between glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockade and distal protection device for the restoration of myocardial perfusion during percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction

Abstract

We compared the use of abciximab with a distal balloon occlusion device in preserving myocardial perfusion among patients undergoing acute percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Of 114 patients, 40 were treated with abciximab and 74 with distal protection. Although pre-treatment with abciximab resulted in marginally better myocardial perfusion at initial coronary angiography, distal protection emerged superior at the end of the procedure. The use of distal protection was associated with an adjusted odds of 4 (p = 0.017) for achieving normal myocardial perfusion and adjusted reduction of 11 corrected TIMI frame counts (p = 0.001) compared with abciximab.