Impact of a micro-net mesh technology covering stent on coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients with high thrombus burden

Background Highly thrombotic coronary lesions continue to be a serious and clinically significant problem that is not effectively and completely addressed by current technology. Objectives We aimed to investigate whether a micro-net mesh (MNM) technology covering stent could preserve the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with high thrombus burden. Methods and Results Fifty-two patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction or ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction and high thrombus burden (TIMI thrombus grade >= 3) were randomized into two groups, PCI with a MNM covering stent (MNM group, n = 25) and PCI with any commercially available stent (DES group, n = 27). As the primary endpoint, IMR was measured immediately after PCI using a pressure-temperature sensor-tipped coronary wire. The secondary endpoint was left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 6 months of follow-up. The IMR in the MNM group was significantly lower in comparison to the DES group (33.2 [21.3, 48.9] vs. 57.2 [39.9, 98.0], p = 0.005). No significant differences were observed in baseline LVEF (54.5 +/- 10.2% vs. 53.1 +/- 6.87%, p = .57), while LVEF was significantly improved at follow-up in the MNM group (61.1 +/- 7.1% vs. 53.9 +/- 6.35%, p = .0001). Conclusion MNM technology significantly improved coronary microvascular dysfunction after PCI in patient with acute coronary syndrome and appears as a useful technological option for thrombus management.