BACKGROUND Erythropoietin (EPO) protected the myocardium from ischemia and reperfusion injury in preclinical studies. However, whether EPO can reduce myocardial injury in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) is controversial. The inconsistent results of previous studies have been attributed to differences in the doses, timing, and routes of administration of EPO. In this study, we will evaluate intracoronary treatment with a long-acting EPO analog, darbepoetin-α, administered immediately before reperfusion in patients with acute anterior ST-segment elevation MI.

METHODS This trial will be a single-center, prospective, randomized, two-arm, controlled trial with blind evaluation of the endpoints. At the time of the primary percutaneous coronary intervention, 80 patients will randomly receive one of the following treatments immediately before the first ballooning: intracoronary darbepoetin-α (ARANESP®; Jeil-Kirin Pharm., Korea) 300μg (n=40) or saline (n=40), administered via the over-the-wire balloon system. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intracoronary darbepoetin-α therapy.

DISCUSSION This is the first study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intracoronary darbepoetin-α treatment in patients with acute MI.