Left ventricular remodeling after primary coronary angioplasty in patients treated with abciximab or intracoronary adenosine

Background Primary angioplasty is the best treatment of acute myocardial infarction but fails to achieve adequate myocardial reperfusion in 25% to 30% of patients, despite TIMI grade 3 flow. Drug treatment aimed at reducing the no-reflow phenomenon may improve myocardial salvage, thus preventing left ventricular remodeling. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of abciximab and adenosine on immediate angiographic results and on 6-month left ventricular remodeling. Methods Ninety consecutive patients undergoing primary angioplasty with coronary stenting were randomized in a sequential alternating fashion to standard abciximab treatment (ABCX) group, intracoronary adenosine distal to the occlusion (ADO) group, or neither (CTRL) group. All patients underwent a clinical and echocardiographic follow-up at 1 and 6 months. The primary end point was the prevalence of 6-month left ventricular remodeling. Results Baseline clinical, echocardiogrophic, and angiographic characteristics were similar. Mean final corrected TIMI frame count was 17 +/- 9, 16 +/- 12, and 23 +/- 11 frames in ABCX, ADO, and CTRL patients, respectively (P = .002). Angiographic no-reflow was observed in 7%, 13%, and 17% of ABCX, ADO, and CTRL patients, respectively (P > .20). At 6 months, left ventricular remodeling occurred in 7%, 30%, and 30% of ABCX, ADO, and CTRL patients, respectively (P = .045), with a percent increase in end-diastolic volume of 5% +/- 13%, 15% +/- 15%, and 12% +/- 18% (P = .04). Conclusions During primary angioplasty, abciximab enhances myocardial reperfusion, translating into a reduced incidence of 6-month left ventricular remodeling. In contrast, adenosine administration improves angiographic results but does not prevent left ventricular remodeling.