Effect of intracoronary tirofiban bolus administration on platelet-derived microparticles and short-term clinical benefit in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Objective To investigate the effect of intracoronary tirofiban bolus administration on platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs) and its correlation with the short-term clinical benefit in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (ASTEMI) undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods A total of 90 patients with ASTEMI undergoing emergency PCI were selected and randomized into the intracoronary group (intracoronary tirofiban 10.00 μg/kg bolus within 1-3 min followed by intravenous continuous infusion at 0.15 μg·kg-1·min-1 for 36 h, n=30), intravenous group (intravenous tirofiban 10.00 μg/kg bolus within 1-3 min followed by intravenous continuous infusion at 0.15 μg·kg-1·min-1 for 36 h, n=30) and control group (without tirofiban administration, n=30). The 3 ml blood samples from coronary artery were obtained before and 10 min after tirofiban infusion. The 3 ml blood samples from radial artery were collected 24 hours after tirofiban infusion and 12 hours after drug withdrawal. The counts of PMPs were analyzed by flow cytometry. The thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade classification and TIMI Myocardial Perfusion Grade in the culprit blood vessel after PCI, and the incidences of bleeding and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) within 30 days after surgery were recorded. Results There was no significant difference in baseline of PMPs among intracoronary group, intravenous group and control group (all P>0.05). The level of PMPs was decreased in the intracoronary and intravenous group as compared with the control group 〔(3.6±2.3)%, (5.1±2.7)% vs. (6.7±3.2)%, P 0.05), and PMPs levels were lower in intracoronary and intravenous group than in control group (both P 0.05). Immediately after PCI, the TIMI flow grade and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade in the culprit blood vessel in intracoronary group were superior to those in the intravenous group and control group (P 0.05). Conclusions The intracoronary versus intravenous tirofiban administration can effectively and immediately reduce the number of PMPs in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing emergency interventional treatment, quickly inhibit the activated platelets, and decrease the total major adverse cardiovascular events without increasing the risk of bleeding.