Rationale and design of a multi‐center, prospective randomized controlled trial on the effects of sacubitril–valsartan versus enalapril on left ventricular remodeling in ST‐elevation myocardial infarction: The PERI‐STEMI study

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) sacubitril-valsartan has been recommended as one of the first-line therapies in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. However, whether ARNI could benefit patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by improving left ventricular (LV) remodeling remains unknown. The primary objective of the PERI-STEMI trial is to assess whether sacubitril-valsartan is more effective in preventing adverse LV remodeling for patients with STEMI than enalapril. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesize that sacubitril/valsartan is superior to enalapril in preventing adverse LV remodeling evaluated by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging at the 6-month follow-up. METHODS: PERI-STEMI is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multi-center, randomized, open-label, superiority trial with blinded evaluation of outcomes. A total of 376 first-time STEMI patients with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) within 12 h after symptom onset will be randomized to sacubitril-valsartan or enalapril treatment. All the patients will receive a baseline cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) examination at 4-7 days post-PPCI. The primary endpoint is the change of indexed LV mass at the 6-month follow-up CMR. RESULTS: Enrollment of the first patient is planned in November 2021. Recruitment is anticipated to last for 12-18 months and patients will be followed for 5 years after randomization. The study is expected to complete in June 2027. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the PERI-STEMI trial are expected to provide CMR evidence on whether ARNI could benefit patients with STEMI, so as to facilitate the strategy of CMR-based risk stratification and therapy selection for these patients. PERI-STEMI is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04912167).