Effect of clopidogrel plus aspirin on tissue perfusion and coronary flow in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A new reperfusion strategy

Background Current reperfusion strategies may fail to achieve optimal tissue perfusion in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We investigated the effect of clopidogrel plus aspirin on tissue perfusion and coronary flow in infarct patients treated with fibrinolytic agents. Methods Consecutive 78 patients with STEMI were randomized to receive clopidogrel plus aspirin (clopidogrel group, n = 42) or placebo plus aspirin (placebo group, n = 36) before streptokinase. Maximum and total ST-segment resolutions (sumSTR) were calculated at 90 minutes after fibrinolysis. TIMI flow grade and corrected TIMI frame count in infarct-related artery were evaluated at predischarge. Inhospital ischemic and hemorrhagic events were also analyzed. Results Baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups. Both mean maximum ST-segment resolution (54.5 ± 21.3% vs 44.6 ± 22.0%, P = .047 ) and sumSTR (52.7 ± 21.1% vs 42.8 ± 20.7%, P = .041) were slightly higher in the clopidogrel group than placebo group. The rate of complete sumSTR 70% was significantly higher in the clopidogrel group compared with placebo group (31% vs 11%, P = .021). TIMI flows were similar in both groups, but corrected TIMI frame count was significantly lower in the clopidogrel group compared with placebo group (25.5 ± 10.5 vs 33.5 ± 11.8 frames, P = .027). Clinical events were comparable in 2 groups; however, there were 1 death caused by heart failure and moderate bleeding in the clopidogrel group. Conclusion Our results suggest that clopidogrel plus aspirin compared with aspirin alone may improve myocardial tissue perfusion and coronary flow in STEMI patients receiving streptokinase.