Using Drugs to Facilitate PCI for Myocardial Infarction

The results of an international clinical trial led by Stephen Ellis, MD, of the Sydell & Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute should have high impact on the treatment of patients presenting with heart attacks caused by blocked coronary arteries. Before the study, it was widely believed that these patients would benefit from being given certain blood-thinning agents, either singularly or in combination, before being taken to a catheterization lab to get an angioplasty, or other percutaneous intervention (PCI). But Dr. Ellis’ study showed that administering the drugs before PCI in a specific group of patients failed to show benefit, and may actually cause harm by promoting bleeding.