LACK OF FUNDING

Acute myocardial infarction with ST elevation (STEMI) is one of the leading causes of mortality. Although the presence of thrombus in STEMI patients has been linked to adverse outcomes, routine thrombus aspiration has not been proven effective. A potential explanation could be that patients with STEMI should be risk-stratified. Thus, a more personalized approach in treating these patients is stressfully required. This proposal aims to establish the required interdisciplinary infrastructure for developing a risk-stratification model by implementing clinical, laboratory and angiographic data with molecular knowledge obtained by using innovative technologies, such as data from nano/micro-Computed tomography and circulating microRNAs. Two hundred consecutive patients with STEMI undergoing thrombus aspiration will be enrolled in the study and will be followed-up for one year for Major Adverse Cardiac and Cerebrovascular events (MACCE). The proposed approach will shed light on the pathophysiological mechanisms and broaden the investigator's understanding of the complex cellular and molecular interactions in the STEMI setting that, along with clinical parameters, affect patient outcomes. Furthermore, it will enable the identification of certain circulating micro-RNAs as cardiovascular disease biomarkers and it will help clinicians to better stratify the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk of patients with STEMI. As part of the work, important characteristics of aspirated thrombi will be assessed for the first time (such as volume, density and shape) and will be linked to patient outcomes. All this information will be incorporated into one in-vitro model, which will be developed using bioprinting and microfluidics methodologies. The in-vitro model will facilitate: (i) the in-depth exploration of the pathophysiological mechanisms in patients with STEMI; and (ii) the therapeutic optimization of innovative nanocarriers/nanomedicines with thrombolytic efficacy. Clearly, the study improves personalized cardiovascular medicine approaches, by considering individual patient clinical assessment in a way that empowers the precision in diagnosis and therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with symptoms of myocardial ischemia lasting for more than 30 minutes
• Definite ECG changes indicating STEMI
• Patients undergoing primary PCI within 12 hours from symptom onset
• Possibility to perform thrombus aspiration
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Treatment with fibrinolytic therapy for qualifying index STEMI event
• Patients with known intolerance to aspirin, ticagrelor or heparin
• Patients with active internal bleeding
• Patients with a recent history of intracranial hemorrhage

210 consecutive patients presenting with STEMI and undergoing thrombus aspiration will be enrolled in the study