Stenting versus non-stenting treatment of intermediate stenosis culprit lesion in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a multicenter randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND: The benefit/risk ratio of stenting in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with single vessel intermediate stenosis culprit lesions merits further study, therefore the subject of the present study. METHODS AND RESULTS: It was a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Between April 2012 and July 2015, 399 acute STEMI patients with single vessel disease and intermediate (40%–70%) stenosis of the culprit lesion before or after aspiration thrombectomy and/or intracoronary tirofiban (15 µg/kg) were enrolled and were randomly assigned (1: 1) to stenting group (n = 201) and non-stenting group (n = 198). In stenting group, patients received pharmacologic therapy plus standard percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent implantation. In non-stenting group, patients received pharmacologic therapy and PCI (thrombectomy), but without dilatation or stenting. Primary endpoint was 12-month rate of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), a composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), repeat revascularization and stroke. Secondary endpoints were 12-month rates of all cause death, ischemia driven admission and bleeding complication. Median follow-up time was 12.4 ± 3.1 months. At 12 months, MACCE occurred in 8.0% of the patients in stenting group, as compared with 15.2% in the non-stenting group (adjusted HR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.19–0.89, P = 0.02). The stenting group had lower non-fatal MI rate than non-stenting group, (1.5% vs. 5.5%, P = 0.03). The two groups shared similar cardiac death, repeat revascularization, stroke, all cause death, ischemia driven readmission and bleeding rates at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Stent implantation had better efficacy and safety in reducing MACCE risks among acute STEMI patients with single vessel intermediate stenosis culprit lesions.