Increased rate of stent thrombosis and target lesion revascularization after filter protection in primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: 15-month follow-up of the DEDICATION (Drug Elution and Distal Protection in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) trial.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of distal protection during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

BACKGROUND

The use of distal filter protection during primary PCI increases procedure complexity and may influence lesion treatment and stent implantation.

METHODS

The STEMI patients were assigned to distal protection (DP) (n = 312) or conventional treatment (CT) (n = 314). Clinical follow-up was performed after 1, 6, and 15 months, and angiographic follow-up after 8 months. All target lesion revascularizations (TLRs) were clinically driven. We report the pre-specified end points of stent thrombosis according to the criteria of the Academic Research Consortium, TLR, and reinfarction after 15 months.

RESULTS

The total number of stent thrombosis was 11 in the DP group and 4 in the CT group (p = 0.06). The rate of definite stent thrombosis was significantly increased in the DP group as compared with the CT group, with 9 cases versus 1 (p = 0.01). Clinically driven TLRs (31 patients vs. 18 patients, p = 0.05) and clinically driven target vessel revascularizations (37 patients vs. 22 patients, p = 0.04) were more frequent in the DP group.

CONCLUSIONS

In primary PCI for STEMI, the routine use of DP increased the incidence of stent thrombosis and clinically driven target lesion/vessel revascularization during 15 months of follow-up. (Drug Elution and Distal Protection in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Trial [DEDICATION]; NCT00192868).