The primary goal in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction is to reperfuse the ischemic myocardium to reduce infarct size. Animal data and human data suggest that whole-body cooling to temperatures below 35°C before revascularisation can additionally reduce infarct size and therefore improves outcome in these patients. The purpose of the study is to determine if a combined cooling strategy started in the out-of-hospital arena is able to reduce infarct size in acute myocardial infarction.
Background: Contemporary therapy in patients with an on-going ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is to reperfuse the ischemic myocardium as soon as possible to reduce infarct size and associated complications. A recent pilot-study showed a significant reduction in infarct size by the induction of pre-reperfusion hypothermia. Objectives: To demonstrate a reduction in infarct size/myocardium at risk (measured by magnet resonance imaging) in patients with ST-Elevation myocardial infarction by strategic temperature management with the use of external cooling pads in the out-of-hospital setting and the continuation with cold saline and central venous catheter cooling in hospital. In a parallel translational study, the molecular effects of rapid and early cooling on inflammatory processes at the culprit lesion site will be defined. Methodology: Randomized, prospective, controlled trial Number of subjects: 120 patients (60 per group) Investigational medical device: EMCOOLS flex pad is an external cooling pad, that consists of multiple cooling cells filled with a patented cooling gel. EMCOOLS flex pad will be used in the out-of-hospital setting to initiate cooling. The Philips RTx Endovascular System™ is an endovascular thermal control system that circulates cooled saline through an indwelling central venous catheter in a closed-loop manner. It will be used in combination with 1-2 litres of intravenous cold saline to induce hypothermia below 35 degrees Celsius. Duration: One hour after successful revascularization the cooling procedure will be stopped, subjects will be covered with a blanket and are allowed to passively re-warm. Clinical follow-up for 180 days. Primary endpoint: Myocardial infarct size (as a percentage of myocardium at risk) assessed by cardiac MRI at 4±2 days. Influence of target temperature management on coronary macrophages and monocytes as well as impact on plasma levels of immune cell chemotaxis and activation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
120
Surface cooling with EMCOOLS flex pads (out-of-hospital); Infusion of 1000ml to 2000ml of cold saline (out-of-hospital); central-venous cooling (Philips Inntercool RTx)
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria
Infarct size (as percentage of myocardium at risk) assessed by cardiac MRI
The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate a reduction in infarct size (as percentage of myocardium at risk) assessed by cardiac MRI at 4±2 days when ST-elevation myocardial infarction is treated with primary coronary intervention (PCI) plus hypothermia compared to PCI alone
Time frame: Day 4±2
Incidence of major adverse cardiac events
The effect of the hypothermia protocol on the incidence of the composite of death, heart failure, recurrent MI, malignant arrhythmias (i.e. ventricular fibrillation, sustained ventricular tachycardia) emergent stent revascularisation or any hospitalisation at 45±15 days and 6 months.
Time frame: 6 months
Immune cell activation
Impact of hypothermia on the number, the activation state, the adhesion and transmigratory capacity of coronary and systemic neutrophils and monocytes as well as impact of hypothermia on coronary and systemic plasma levels of soluble proteins related to innate immune cell chemotaxis and activation.
Time frame: 4±2 days
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