A comparison of pharmacologic therapy with/without timely coronary intervention vs. primary percutaneous intervention early after ST-elevation myocardial infarction: the WEST (Which Early ST-elevation myocardial infarction Therapy) study.
OBJECTIVE
Uncertainty exists as to which reperfusion strategy for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) is optimal. We evaluated whether optimal pharmacologic therapy at the earliest point of care, emphasizing pre-hospital randomization and treatment was non-inferior to expeditious primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).


RESULTS
Which Early ST-elevation myocardial infarction Therapy (WEST) was a four-city Canadian, open-label, randomized, feasibility study of 304 STEMI patients (> 4 mm ST-elevation/deviation) within 6 h of symptom onset, emphasizing pre-hospital ambulance treatment and participation of community and tertiary care centres. All received aspirin, subcutaneous enoxaparin (1 mg/kg), and were randomized to one of three groups: (A) tenecteplase (TNK) and usual care, (B) TNK and mandatory invasive study < or = 24 h, including rescue PCI for reperfusion failure, and (C) primary PCI with 300 mg loading dose of clopidogrel. Time from symptom onset to treatment was rapid (to TNK for A = 113 and B = 130 min and for PCI in C = 176 min). The primary outcome, a composite of 30-day death, re-infarction, refractory ischaemia, congestive heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and major ventricular arrhythmia, was 25% (Group A), 24% (Group B), and 23% (Group C), respectively. However, there was a higher frequency of the combination of death and recurrent MI in Group A vs. Group C (13.0 vs. 4.0%, respectively, P-logrank = 0.021), yet no difference between Group B (6.7%, P-logrank = 0.378) and C.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that a contemporary pharmacologic regimen rapidly delivered, coupled with a strategy of regimented rescue and routine coronary intervention within 24 h of initial treatment, may not be different from timely expert PCI.
Armstrong
Paul W
PW
Canadian VIGOUR Centre, 2-51 Medical Sciences Building, University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2H7. paul.armstrong@ualberta.ca
D000077284:Abciximab; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D017984:Enoxaparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion / Q000379:methods; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077785:Tenecteplase; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017984:Enoxaparin; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin; D000077785:Tenecteplase; D000077284:Abciximab