Coronary artery stenting during acute myocardial infarction in patients treated with IIb/IIIa anti-platelet antibodies: early outcome results.

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty has been shown to be an effective treatment for acute myocardial infarction. Despite encouraging results, this form of treatment is limited by a high incidence of recurrent ischemia either due to early rethrombosis or to restenosis of the infarct vessel within the first six months. Coronary artery stents decrease restenosis but are considered contraindicated in situations were thrombus is present. c7E3 is a potent anti-platelet agent which inhibits thrombus formation. We developed 44 stents as part of angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction in 18 patients given c7E3. All patients obtained normal flow angiographically and no stent thrombosis was observed.