Trans-coronary Cooling and Dilution for Cardioprotection During Revascularisation for ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI-Cool)

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when an artery supplying blood to the heart is suddenly blocked resulting in damage to the heart muscle.

Patients presenting to hospital with a heart attack undergo an immediate angiogram (x-ray of the arteries in the heart) and are usually treated immediately with a balloon and stent to open their blocked artery. This procedure is called "primary percutaneous coronary intervention" (or primary PCI for short).

An angiogram is a routine procedure that involves insertion of fine plastic tube (catheter) into either the groin or wrist under local anaesthetic. The tube is passed into the artery in the heart and X-ray pictures are taken to find out if the arteries are blocked. Blocked arteries can usually be opened by passing a small balloon into the artery, via the fine plastic tube followed by placement of a stent (a fine metal coil) into the artery to prevent it from blocking again.

Although this treatment is very successful, it can result in damage to the heart muscle when the artery is opened. Cooling the entire body has been shown to reduce heart muscle damage during heart attacks in some patients but not in others; however, it is uncomfortable due to the shivering, expensive and can result in delays in opening the blocked artery.

The investigators are conducting a series of research studies to find out if cooling the heart muscle directly through the catheter being used for the normal primary angioplasty treatment using room temperature may be effective in preserving heart muscle, without the shortcomings of entire body cooling.

The investigators have already published an initial series of ten cases in which this treatment appeared to be feasible without causing significant clinical problems.

The present study is a pilot study designed to assess the rate of patient recruitment and feasibility of this new treatment while exploring some detailed outcomes measuring the restoration of blood flow within the coronary artery at the end of the procedure.

Ultimately if the present pilot study is successful, the investigators plan to go on to undertake a much larger randomised outcome study to determine definitively whether this treatment can help reduce heart attack size.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Myocardial Infarction; Reperfusion Injury, Myocardial
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Transcoronary cooling and dilution; Other: Standard of care

Detailed Description

The study population will comprise 60 patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) presenting to Harefield Hospital undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

The primary aim of this pilot trial is to investigate the recruitment rate feasibility and safety of undertaking a randomised trial of simple intracoronary coronary cooling and dilution through the guiding catheter during primary PCI for STEMI to reduce myocardial infarction size.

The secondary aims are as follows:

1. The study will explore the invasive haemodynamic assessment of coronary flow and microvascular function
2. The study will explore blood biomarkers before and after treatment for myocardial infarction
3. The study will explore myocardial salvage after treatment for myocardial infarction with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and subsequent final infarct size.

Patients will be randomised 1:1 in the catheterisation lab when coronary angiography has demonstrated a target lesion with proposed primary PCI. Patients randomised to the intervention will receive transcatheter cooling and dilution in addition to usual clinical care. Patients randomised to control will receive usual care alone.

A combined thermistor and pressure wire Coroventis™ (Abbott Vascular) with comparable tip stiffness to standard guidewires and in routine clinical use, will be used to perform the primary PCI procedure and to measure intracoronary temperature and pressure continually throughout all procedures in all patients. This will therefore limit the procedure to a simple single wire throughout strategy in most cases. In the event that the wire fails to function properly during or after the PCI procedure it may be changed for a new wire using standard interventional techniques as appropriate

Patients randomised to intracoronary cooling and dilution(n=30), will receive an intracoronary infusion of room temperature 0.9% Normal Saline solution through the guiding catheter which will commence immediately prior to crossing the coronary occlusion with the guidewire. Using a 3-way tap in the procedural manifold an infusion pressure of 150mmHg above systolic blood pressure achieved with a pressure bag will be used to achieve a target intracoronary temperature of 6-8 C° below the baseline temperature. The infusion will continue until 10 minutes after the lesion is crossed and distal flow is restored, with only brief interruptions as required for the clinical procedure. A maximum volume of 750ml will be infused. The primary angioplasty procedure itself will be undertaken according to standard local practice. Patients randomised to the control group (n=30) will undergo primary PCI according to standard local practice.

A complete physiological study including Fractional flow reserve (FFR), resting full-cycle ratio (RFR), coronary flow reserve (CFR), resistive reserve ratio (RRR) and index of microvascular resistance (IMR) to assess microcirculation will be measured 10 minutes after reperfusion in all patients.

Patients will go on to have blood taken on the next day for the analysis of a panel of biomarkers and comparison with pre-procedure levels and in addition to have a cardiac MRI scan prior to discharge and at 6 months.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Miles C Dalby, MD; Phone Number: +441895 823737; Email: m.dalby@rbht.nhs.uk
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Ira Jakupovic; Phone Number: +44207 3518109; Email: i.jakupovic@rbht.nhs.uk

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Uxbridge, United Kingdom, UB9 6JH
    • Recruiting
    • Harefield Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical ST-elevation myocardial infarction or equivalent (e.g. new onset LBBB)
• <12 Hrs after symptom onset
• Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) 0-1 coronary flow in a target vessel

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of severe asthma
• Pregnancy
• Severe concomitant disease or conditions with a life expectancy of less than one year.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Transcoronary cooling and dilution; Intervention with transcoronary cooling and dilution	Other: Transcoronary cooling and dilution; Transcoronary cooling and dilution
Active Comparator: Standard of care; Routine clinical care	Other: Standard of care; Routine clinical care

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Recruitment rate	Patients recruited per month	1 year
Feasibility (Number of studies where all the planned measurements have been collected / total studies)	Number of studies where all the planned measurements have been collected / total studies	1 year
Safety (Adverse events should not be significantly higher in the treatment arm compared to control, nor plausibly caused by the treatment)	Adverse events should not be significantly higher in the treatment arm compared to control, nor plausibly caused by the treatment as assessed by CTCAE v5.0	1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Index of microvascular resistance (IMR) 10 mins after completion of percutaneous coronary intervention and study infusion	Distal coronary pressure during hyperaemia x mean transit time (mmHg·s)	1 hour
Fractional flow reserve (FFR) 10 mins after completion of percutaneous coronary intervention and study infusion	Distal coronary pressure/aortic pressure during hyperaemia	1 hour
Resistive reserve ratio (RRR) 10 mins after completion of percutaneous coronary intervention and study infusion	Index of microvascular resistance rest/hyperaemia	1 hour
Resting full-cycle ratio (RFR) 10 mins after completion of percutaneous coronary intervention and study infusion	lowest value of distal coronary pressure/aortic pressure over the entire cardiac cycle at rest	1 hour
Intracoronary temperature change	Intracoronary temperature change during cooling and dilution (°C)	1 hour
Infusion volume	Total volume of intracoronary saline infused (ml)	1 hour
Infusion rate	Total volume of intracoronary saline infused/infusion time (ml/min)	1 hour
Chest pain during study infusion	Whether new chest pain arises, or chest pain increases during study infusion	1 hour
ECG changes during study infusion	Amelioration or worsening of the ECG anomalies during study infusion (ST elevation/depression, T wave inversion, QT prolongation)	1 hour
Heart rhythm changes during study infusion	Appearance or resolution of heart rhythm disturbances during study infusion (sinus tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, atrial tachycardia/fibrillation/flutter, ventricular tachycardia/flutter, ventricular fibrillation, sinus bradycardia, grade I, II, or III heart block, asystole.	1 hour
Myocardial blush grade 10 mins after completion of percutaneous coronary intervention and study infusion	Angiographic myocardial perfusion measurement based on visual assessment of the myocardium after contrast injection. Grading: 0, no myocardial blush or contrast density; 1, minimal myocardial blush or contrast density; 2, moderate myocardial blush or contrast density but less than that obtained during angiography of a contralateral or ipsilateral non-infarct-related coronary artery; and 3, normal myocardial blush or contrast density, comparable with that obtained during angiography of a contralateral or ipsilateral non-infarct-related coronary artery	1 hour
Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow 10 mins after completion of percutaneous coronary intervention and study infusion	Visual angiographic assessment of coronary flow. Grade 0 = no perfusion; grade 1 = penetration without perfusion; 2 = partial perfusion; 3 = complete perfusion	1 hour
ST segment resolution 10 mins after completion of percutaneous coronary intervention and study infusion	Null, partial, or complete resolution of the ST elevation	1 hour
Heart Rhythm disturbance from baseline to 12 hours	Appearance or resolution of heart rhythm disturbances in the 12 hours after the procedure (sinus tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, atrial tachycardia/fibrillation/flutter, ventricular tachycardia/flutter, ventricular fibrillation, sinus bradycardia, grade I, II, or III heart block, asystole.	12 hours
Haemodynamic compromise from baseline to 12 hours	Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) class B or above	12 hours
Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 48 hours	Simpson biplane (diastolic-systolic)/diastolic left ventricular volume on echocardiography	2 days
Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 6 months	Simpson biplane (diastolic-systolic)/diastolic left ventricular volume on echocardiography	6 months
Wall motion score index (WMSI) at 48 hours	The wall motion score index (WMSI) is an echocardiographic parameter that numerically sums the average scores for all left ventricular segments into a single parameter and then dividing by the number of segments. 1 Normal motion; 2 = hypokinesia; 3 = akinesia; 4 = dyskinesia.	48 hours
Wall motion score index (WMSI) at 6 months	The wall motion score index (WMSI) is an echocardiographic parameter that numerically sums the average scores for all left ventricular segments into a single parameter and then dividing by the number of segments. 1 Normal motion; 2 = hypokinesia; 3 = akinesia; 4 = dyskinesia.	6 months
Global longitudinal strain (GLS) at 48 hours	Echocardiographic speckle-tracking imaging that measures the systolic shortening of left ventricular segments as percentage of their diastolic length	48 hours
Global longitudinal strain (GLS) at 6 months	Echocardiographic speckle-tracking imaging that measures the systolic shortening of left ventricular segments as percentage of their diastolic length	6 months
Length of stay	Duration of hospital length of stay	3-5 days
Peak high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT, ng/l)	Myocardial injury marker. Highest hs-cTnT measurement during hospital stay	1-3 days
N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, ng/l)	Heart failure marker. Highest NT-proBNP measurement during hospital stay	1-3 days
Interleukin-1b	Biomarker of inflammation during myocardial infarction	1 day
Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist	Biomarker of inflammation during myocardial infarction	1 day
Interleukin-6	Biomarker of inflammation during myocardial infarction	1 day
Interleukin-10	Biomarker of inflammation during myocardial infarction	1 day
First pass microvascular obstruction extent (FP MVO)	Measured in 3 SAX levels to provide an index of %LV FP MVO	1-3 days
First pass microvascular obstruction extent (FP MVO) at 6 months	Measured in 3 SAX levels to provide an index of %LV FP MVO	6 months
Early MVO extent (% of LV) on 1 min post-gadolinium contrast enhanced MRI, adjusted for area at-risk	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	1-3 days
Early MVO extent (% of LV) on 1 min post-gadolinium contrast enhanced MRI, adjusted for area at-risk, at 6 months	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	6 months
Late MVO (presence / absence) on LGE	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	1-3 days
Late MVO (presence / absence) on LGE at 6 months	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	6 months
Initial infarct size (LGE)	Mass of infarcted myocardium calculated with the full-width at half-maximum method	1-3 days
Infarct size (LGE) at 6 months	Mass of infarcted myocardium calculated with the full-width at half-maximum method	6 months
Initial MSI (area-at-risk minus initial infarct size/area-at-risk)	Percentage of the area at risk (calculated with the Otsu method) that was not infarcted on late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) images using infarct size from the pre-discharge (Acute MSI)	1-3 days
MSI (area-at-risk minus initial infarct size/area-at-risk) at 6 months	Percentage of the area at risk (calculated with the Otsu method) that was not infarcted on late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) images using infarct size from the follow-up (Final MSI) magnetic resonance imaging	6 months
Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI)	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	1-3 days
Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) at 6 months	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	6 months
Left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI)	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	1-3 days
Left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) at 6 months	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	6 months
Myocardial haemorrhage (presence/absence)	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	1-3 days
Myocardial haemorrhage (presence/absence) at 6 months	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	6 months
Myocardial haemorrhage extent (% of LV)	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	1-3 days
Myocardial haemorrhage extent (% of LV) at 6 months	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	6 months
Composite of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure at 6 weeks	Composite of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure at 6 weeks	6 weeks
Hospitalization for heart failure at 6 weeks	Hospitalization for heart failure at 6 weeks	6 weeks
All-cause mortality at 6 weeks	All-cause mortality at 6 weeks	6 weeks
Hospitalization for heart failure at 6 months	Hospitalization for heart failure at 6 months	6 months
Composite of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure at 6 months	Composite of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure at 6 months	6 months
All-cause mortality at 6 months	All-cause mortality at 6 months	6 months
Composite of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure at 12 months	Composite of all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure at 12 months	12 months
Hospitalization for heart failure at 12 months	Hospitalization for heart failure at 12 months	12 months
Cardiovascular mortality at 12 months	Cardiovascular mortality at 12 months	12 months
Coronary flow reserve (CFR) 10 mins after completion of percutaneous coronary intervention and study infusion	Thermodilution-based ratio of hyperaemic coronary flow/basal flow	1 hour
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance-based Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	1-3 days
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance-based Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 6 months	Cardiac magnetic resonance-based assessment	6 months
Cardiovascular mortality at 6 weeks	Cardiovascular mortality at 6 weeks	6 weeks
Cardiovascular mortality at 6 months	Cardiovascular mortality at 6 months	6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Miles C Dalby, MD, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Erlinge D, Gotberg M, Lang I, Holzer M, Noc M, Clemmensen P, Jensen U, Metzler B, James S, Botker HE, Omerovic E, Engblom H, Carlsson M, Arheden H, Ostlund O, Wallentin L, Harnek J, Olivecrona GK. Rapid endovascular catheter core cooling combined with cold saline as an adjunct to percutaneous coronary intervention for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. The CHILL-MI trial: a randomized controlled study of the use of central venous catheter core cooling combined with cold saline as an adjunct to percutaneous coronary intervention for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014 May 13;63(18):1857-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2013.12.027. Epub 2014 Feb 5.
• Otterspoor LC, Van 't Veer M, Van Nunen LX, Brueren GRG, Tonino PAL, Wijnbergen IF, Helmes H, Zimmermann FM, Van Hagen E, Johnson NP, Pijls NHJ. Safety and feasibility of selective intracoronary hypothermia in acute myocardial infarction. EuroIntervention. 2017 Dec 8;13(12):e1475-e1482. doi: 10.4244/EIJ-D-17-00240.
• McGarvey M, Ali O, Iqbal MB, Ilsley C, Wong J, Di Mario C, Redwood S, Patterson T, Pennell DJ, Rogers P, Dalby M; ORCA-3 For the Optimal Restoration of Cardiac Activity (ORCA) Group. A feasibility and safety study of intracoronary hemodilution during primary coronary angioplasty in order to reduce reperfusion injury in myocardial infarction. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2018 Feb 1;91(2):234-241. doi: 10.1002/ccd.27136. Epub 2017 Jun 21.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 17, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 7, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): November 13, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 29, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Heart Diseases; Necrosis; Cardiomyopathies; Myocardial Ischemia; Ischemia; ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Infarction; Infarction; Reperfusion Injury; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury
• Other Study ID Numbers: 315559

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No