Routine analyses were obtained on admission before coronary angiography and before full medical therapy was started. Before PCI, all patients were administered loading doses of aspirin 200–300 mg and clopidogrel 300–600 mg; alternatively, ticagrelor 180 mg or prasugrel 60 mg was administered. PCI was performed via the femoral or radial approach after an intravenous bolus dose of heparin (50–100 U/kg) to achieve an activated clotting time of > 250 s. DAPT (a combination of aspirin 100 mg/day with clopidogrel 75 mg/day or ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily or prasugrel 5–10 mg/day) was recommended for > 12 months for patients who underwent PCI. Triple antiplatelet therapy (TAPT: cilostazol 100 mg twice daily in addition to DAPT) was left to the discretion of the individual operators. To stabilize glycemic control in the emergency setting, all patients underwent continuous insulin infusion: the infusion lasted until a stable glycemic goal (140–180 mg/dl) for at least 24 h. After that glycemic goal was maintained for 24 h, the infusion was stopped, and subcutaneous insulin was initiated. After discharge from the hospital, all patients were managed and followed for 12 months after PCI, as outpatients, to maintain an HbA1c level at < 7%. Diagnostic coronary angiography and PCI were performed using standard guidelines [2 (link)]. A successful PCI was defined as residual stenosis of < 30% and more than grade 3 flow in Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow for the infarct-related artery (IRA) after the procedure.
Free full text: Click here
