title: The Harmonizing Outcomes with RevasculariZatiON and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS-AMI) Trial: study design and rationale.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advances in coronary angioplasty and adjunct pharmacology have improved patient outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, several areas for improvement remain. Hemorrhagic complications, which are common in patients receiving intense anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents during primary PCI to suppress ischemia, have been strongly associated with early and late mortality. Moreover, restenosis after bare-metal stents (BMSs) frequently results in symptom recurrence and the need for repeat rehospitalization and revascularization procedures. Newer pharmacologic agents and drug-eluting stents may address both of these issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the HORIZONS-AMI trial, 3,602 patients with AMI undergoing primary PCI were prospectively randomized to unfractionated heparin plus routine use of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors versus the direct thrombin inhibitor bivalirudin plus provisional use of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors reserved for predefined thrombotic complications. In a second randomization, 3,011 eligible patients were randomly assigned to either a polymer-based paclitaxel-eluting stent or to an otherwise identical BMS. The study was powered for the assessment of sequential safety and efficacy end points for each specific randomization, with clinical end points assessed at 30 days, 1 year, and then annually for 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ongoing HORIZONS-AMI trial will determine whether bivalirudin monotherapy reduces bleeding complications and improves overall event-free survival compared with unfractionated heparin plus the routine use of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients undergoing primary PCI for AMI. Furthermore, this study will determine whether paclitaxel-eluting stents safely reduce rates of ischemic target lesion revascularization compared with BMSs in the setting of primary PCI.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University Medical Center and The Cardiovascular Research Foundation, New York, NY 10032, USA. rmehran@crf.org
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mehran
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brodie
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Cindy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Grines
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rutherford
authors.forename: Deepak L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dangas
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feit
authors.forename: E Magnus
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ohman
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Parise
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fahy
authors.forename: Alexandra J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lansky
authors.forename: Gregg W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006629:Hirudins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012016:Reference Values; D012107:Research Design; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015607:Stents; D015996:Survival Rate; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D006629:Hirudins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C074619:bivalirudin