Incidence and Prediction of Periprocedural Myocardial Infarction in Elective PCI: the ALPHEUS-MI Sub-Study

PCI-related myocardial infarction (MI) or injury are frequent events that have been shown to be associated with long-term ischemic outcomes and mortality. To evaluate determinants of PCI-related myocardial infarction (MI) or injury with the validated definition. The ALPHEUS-MI study is a prespecified analysis of the ALPHEUS randomized trial conducted in 49 centers of two European countries which recruited 1910 patients with chronic coronary syndrome undergoing elective PCI. We analyzed the rate and predictors of periprocedural myocardial necrosis using the primary and secondary endpoint of the ALPHEUS trial (3rd and 4th universal definition of MI) and the ARC2/SCAI definitions. Multivariable model including patient's demographic, angiographic and procedural characteristics were performed for each definition to determine predictors of periprocedural events. The primary endpoint of the ALPHEUS trial (type 4a MI or major myocardial injury) occurred in 35.85% of the patients (3rd universal definition of MI); the secondary endpoint of the ALPHEUS trial (type 4a MI and any myocardial injury) occurred in 77.21% of the patients (4th universal definition of MI); significant periprocedural myocardial injury occurred in 3.24% of the patients (ARC2/SCAI definition) and periprocedural MI (ARC2/SCAI definition) in 2.02% of the patients. The rate of events followed a stepwise increase according to the number of high-risk features with all definitions (Figure 1). High risk features were characterized by patients’ characteristics, the complexity of the coronary lesion (anatomy and atheroma burden) and the complexity of the PCI procedure itself. The only common predictor of MI or myocardial injury present with the 4 definitions was the total length of stent implanted (>60 mm); adjOR 3.23 (2.49–4.18) p < 0,001 (type 4a MI/major injury 3rd UDMI), adjOR 3.82 (2.51–5.8) p < 0,001 (type 4a MI/any injury 4th UDMI), adjOR 2.2 (1.24–3.91) p = 0,007 (myocardial injury ARC2/SCAI) and adjOR 6.0 (3.04–11.9) p < 0,001 (MI ARC2/SCAI). Whatever definition of type 4aMI and myocardial injury, the strongest predictor of myocardial necrosis seems to be the length of stent implanted which reflects both the severity of atheroma burden and the complexity of PCI.