Facilitation of primary coronary angioplasty by early start of a glycoprotein 2b/3a inhibitor: results of the ongoing tirofiban in myocardial infarction evaluation (On-TIME) trial.
OBJECTIVE
Although primary angioplasty is effective despite additional transportation delay, improved patency before PCI might be obtained by starting pharmacological pre-treatment before transportation.


RESULTS
From June 2001 to November 2002, 507 patients with acute myocardial infarction, who were transferred to a PCI centre, were randomised to early, pre-hospital initiation of Tirofiban (Early) or to initiation in the catheterisation laboratory (Late). The primary end-point was TIMI flow grade 3 of the infarct-related vessel (IRV) at initial angiography, as assessed by an independent core-lab. The effect of Tirofiban on each TIMI flow component, the presence of thrombus at initial angiography and pre-PCI myocardial blush grade were secondary end-points. A large proportion of patients (41%) was diagnosed and randomised in the ambulance, without intervention of a physician. In the Early group, Tirofiban was administered a median of 59 min (range 11-178 min) earlier than in the Late group. At initial angiography, TIMI 3 flow was present in 19% the Early group and in 15% in the Late group (P = 0.22). The combined incidence of TIMI 2 or 3 flow was present in 43% in the Early group and in 34% in the Late group, respectively (P = 0.04). Thrombus or a fresh occlusion was present in 60% and 73% in the Early and Late group, respectively (P = 0.002). A pre-PCI myocardial blush grades 2 or 3 was more often present in the Early group (30% vs. 22%, P = 0.04). However, no difference in TIMI 3 flow or myocardial blush grade was found between the groups, post-PCI. At one-year follow-up, the combined incidence of death or recurrent MI was not different between the groups (7.0% vs. 7.0%, P = 0.99).


CONCLUSIONS
Early initiation of Tirofiban did not improve initial TIMI 3 flow of the IRV significantly. Despite a better patency (TIMI 2 or 3 flow), a lower prevalence of thrombus or fresh occlusion and a better myocardial perfusion in the infarct-related region pre-PCI, no beneficial effect on post-PCI angiographic or clinical outcome was found, as compared to initiation of Tirofiban in the catheterisation laboratory.
van 't Hof
Arnoud W J
AW
Isala Klinieken, Locatie Weezenlanden, Department of Cardiology, Groot Wezenland 20, 8011 JW Zwolle, The Netherlands. v.r.c.derks@isala.nl
Ernst
Nicolette
N
de Boer
Menko-Jan
MJ
de Winter
Rob
R
Boersma
Eric
E
Bunt
Ton
T
Petronio
Sonia
S
Marcel Gosselink
A T
AT
Jap
Walter
W
Hollak
Frans
F
Hoorntje
Jan C A
JC
Suryapranata
Harry
H
Dambrink
Jan-Henk E
JH
Zijlstra
Felix
F
D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013997:Time Factors; D000077466:Tirofiban; D014187:Transportation of Patients; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D014443:Tyrosine; D000077466:Tirofiban