Cardiology Research, ISSN 1923-2829 print, 1923-2837 online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, Cardiol Res and Elmer Press Inc
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Original Article

Volume 17, Number 1, February 2026, pages 23-31

Assessment of No-Reflow in Patients With STEMI After Intracoronary Tirofiban After Opening of the Vessel

Figures

↓  Figure 1. CONSORT flowchart of the enrolled patients.
Figure 1.
↓  Figure 2. (a) Pre- and post-PCI TIMI flow grade and (b) total in hospital TVF of the studied groups. PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention; TIMI: thrombolysis in myocardial infarction; TVF: target vessel failure.
Figure 2.
↓  Figure 3. Representative angiographic images of the right coronary artery (RCA) in STEMI patients. (a) Pre-PCI, placebo group. (b) Post-PCI, placebo group. (c) Pre-PCI, IC tirofiban group. (d) Post-PCI, IC tirofiban group, demonstrating improved TIMI 3 flow with tirofiban administration. IC: intracoronary; PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention; TIMI: thrombolysis in myocardial infarction.
Figure 3.

Tables

↓  Table 1. Pre-Interventional Data and Laboratory Tests
 
Tirofiban group (n = 30)Placebo group (n = 30)P value
Data presented as mean ± SD or frequency (%). ALT: alanine transaminase; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; BMI: body mass index; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; LDL: low-density lipoprotein.
Age (years)59.17 ± 14.6557.27 ± 13.210.600
Sex0.559
  Male21 (70%)23 (76.67%)
  Female9 (30%)7 (23.33%)
Weight (kg)83.37 ± 9.9380.8 ± 8.550.288
Height (cm)171.77 ± 5.7170.3 ± 5.850.330
BMI (kg/m2)28.34 ± 3.8627.97 ± 3.730.712
Comorbidities
  Hypertension14 (46.67%)11 (36.67%)0.432
  Diabetes mellitus10 (33.33%)8 (26.67%)0.573
  Smoking3 (10%)5 (16.67%)0.707
Hemoglobin (g/dL)12.82 ± 1.8213.16 ± 2.060.509
Platelet (103/µL)247.97 ± 66.7253.03 ± 66.420.769
Creatinine (mg/dL)1.01 ± 0.51.18 ± 0.360.137
Urea (mg/dL)20.93 ± 8.6422.07 ± 9.440.629
ALT (U/L)32.2 ± 12.1934.7 ± 15.140.484
AST (U/L)41.63 ± 18.7347.33 ± 22.530.291
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)184.4 ± 43.08189.23 ± 39.320.652
Triglycerides (mg/dL)112.07 ± 46.96113.17 ± 53.130.933
LDL (mg/dL)120.57 ± 31.09125.87 ± 40.340.571
HDL (mg/dL)38.8 ± 12.7134.9 ± 13.880.261
Troponin-I (ng/mL)8.24 ± 4.219.53 ± 5.10.292

 

↓  Table 2. Interventional Data
 
Tirofiban group (n = 30)Placebo group (n = 30)P value
Data presented as mean ± SD or frequency (%). RCA: right coronary artery.
Infarct-related artery0.856
  Left anterior descending14 (46.67%)13 (43.33%)
  RCA7 (23.33%)6 (20%)
  Circumflex9 (30%)11 (36.67%)
Stent implantation30 (100%)30 (100%)-
Balloon predilatation20 (66.67%)25 (83.33%)0.136
Stent length (mm)24.8 ± 4.8724.2 ± 4.80.633
Stent diameter (mm)3.22 ± 0.483.12 ± 0.380.409
Stent inflation pressure (atm)14.37 ± 2.514.8 ± 3.680.596

 

↓  Table 3. TIMI Flow Grade, ST-T Normalization, Treatment Outcomes, and Complications
 
Group S (n = 30)Group C (n = 30)P value
Data presented as frequency (%). PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention; TIMI: thrombolysis in myocardial infarction; TVF: target vessel failure.
Pre-PCI TIMI flow grade-
  TIMI 030 (100%)30 (100%)
Post-PCI TIMI flow grade0.041
  TIMI 00 (0%)3 (10%)
  TIMI 12 (6.67%)5 (16.67%)
  TIMI 24 (13.33%)8 (26.67%)
  TIMI 324 (80%)14 (46.67%)
Post tirofiban reflow0.007
  Reflow24 (80%)14 (46.67%)
  No reflow6 (20%)16 (53.33%)
ST-T normalization0.034
  Complete resolution26 (86.67%)17 (56.67%)
  Partial resolution2 (6.67%)5 (16.67%)
  Poor resolution2 (6.67%)8 (26.67%)
Treatment for no-reflow post PCI
  Intracoronary nitrate6 (20%)14 (46.67%)0.007
  Intracoronary diltiazem6 (20%)14 (46.67%)0.007
  Post-PCI balloon dilatations15 (50%)16 (53.33%)0.796
Complications
  Minor bleeding8 (26.67%)1 (3.33%)0.026
  Major bleeding0 (0%)0 (0%)-
  Cardiac death0 (0%)2 (6.67%)0.492
  Total in hospital TVF1 (3.33%)9 (30%)0.012