Marked reduction of early stent thrombosis with pre‐hospital initiation of high‐dose Tirofiban in ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction

Summary.  Background: No randomized comparisons are yet available evaluating the effect of pre‐hospital high dose tirofiban on the incidence of early stent thrombosis after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to evaluate whether routine pre‐hospital administration of high‐dose tirofiban in ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) decreases the incidence of early stent thrombosis after primary PCI. Patients/methods: The Ongoing Tirofiban in Myocardial Evaluation (On‐TIME) 2 trial was a prospective multicenter study of consecutive STEMI patients referred for primary PCI in which patients were randomized to pre‐hospital no high‐dose tirofiban/placebo. We examined the incidence of Academic Research Consortium definite and probable early stent thrombosis and determined predictors and outcome of early stent thrombosis. Results: Primary PCI was performed in 1203 out of 1398 patients (86.1%). In 1073 patients (89.2%) a coronary stent was placed. Early stent thrombosis occurred in 39 patients (3.6%). Pre‐hospital initiation of high‐dose tirofiban significantly reduced early stent thrombosis (2.1% vs. 5.2%, P = 0.006) and was associated with a lower incidence of urgent repeat PCI (1.9% vs. 5.2%, P = 0.005). Early stent thrombosis, as well as pre‐hospital initiation of high‐dose tirofiban, was independently associated with 30‐day mortality. Conclusions: Pre‐hospital initiation of high‐dose tirofiban reduces the 30‐day incidence of stent thrombosis in STEMI patients treated with primary PCI and stenting. Early stent thrombosis and pre‐hospital initiation of high‐dose tirofiban were independent predictors of 30‐day mortality.