American Society of Hirudotherapy

Clinical Impact of Intraprocedural Stent Thrombosis During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients Treated With Potent P2Y12 inhibitors - a VALIDATE-SWEDEHEART Substudy

Research article published in J Am Heart Assoc (2021)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Research reportClinical TrialsSafety & Infection ControlBergman S et al. · J Am Heart Assoc, 2021

Abstract

Background The clinical importance of intraprocedural stent thrombosis (IPST) during percutaneous coronary intervention in the contemporary era of potent oral P2Y12 inhibitors is not established. The aim of this study was to assess IPST and its association with clinical outcome in patients with myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with contemporary antithromboticmedications. Methods and Results The VALIDATE-SWEDEHEART study (Bivalirudin Versus Heparin in ST-Segment and Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Patients on Modern Antiplatelet Therapy in the Swedish Web System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence-Based Care in Heart Disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies Registry Trial) included 6006 patients with myocardial infarction, treated with potent P2Y12 inhibitors during percutaneous coronary intervention. IPST, defined as a new or worsening thrombus related to a stent deployed during the procedure, was reported by the interventional cardiologist in 55 patients (0.9%) and was significantly associated with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction presentation, longer stents, bailout glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, and final Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow <3. The primary composite end point included cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, out-of-laboratory definite stent thrombosis and target vessel revascularization within 30 days. Secondary end points were major bleeding and the individual components of the primary composite end point. Patients with versus without IPST had significantly higher rates of the primary composite end point (20.0% versus 4.4%), including higher rates of cardiovascular death, target vessel revascularization, and definite stent thrombosis, but not myocardial infarction or major bleeding. By multivariable analysis, IPST was independently associated with the primary composite end point (hazard ratio, 3.82; 95% CI, 2.05-7.12; P<0.001). Conclusions IPST is a rare but dangerous complication during percutaneous coronary intervention, independently associated with poor prognosis, even in the current era of potent antiplatelet agents. Future treatment studies are needed to reduce the rate of IPST and to improve the poor outcome among these patients. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02311231.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Publication typeJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Indexed MeSH termsHumansMyocardial InfarctionPercutaneous Coronary InterventionPurinergic P2Y Receptor AntagonistsStentsThrombosisTreatment Outcome

Summary

VALIDATE-SWEDEHEART substudy identified intraprocedural stent thrombosis in 0.9% of 6006 patients with myocardial infarction; IPST independently associated with primary composite endpoint (HR 3.82).

Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy

This substudy of the randomized VALIDATE-SWEDEHEART trial assessed intra-procedural stent thrombosis (IPST) in 6,006 myocardial-infarction patients undergoing PCI on potent oral P2Y12 inhibitors, finding IPST in 0.9% (55 patients) and showing it was independently associated with the 30-day composite of cardiovascular death, MI, definite stent thrombosis, and target-vessel revascularization (hazard ratio 3.82, 95% CI 2.05–7.12). The link to hirudotherapy is indirect: VALIDATE-SWEDEHEART randomized bivalirudin versus heparin, and bivalirudin is a hirudin-derived direct thrombin inhibitor, situating this work in the antithrombotic lineage rooted in the leech secretome. Honest caveat: this is an observational substudy focused on a procedural complication rather than on leech therapy or hirudin efficacy; it confirms IPST is a rare but prognostically serious event and explicitly calls for future studies, so it offers context, not a leech-relevant clinical conclusion.

Citation

Clinical Impact of Intraprocedural Stent Thrombosis During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients Treated With Potent P2Y12 inhibitors - a VALIDATE-SWEDEHEART Substudy.

Bergman S et al. · J Am Heart Assoc, 2021

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