Usefulness of the whole blood viscosity to predict stent thrombosis in ST-elevation myocardial infarction

This study sought to investigate the predictive value of estimated whole blood viscosity (WBV) for stent thrombosis (ST) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. A total of 1720 STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention were followed up for median 36.0 months. WBV was calculated according to the Simone’s formula. During follow-up period, 119 patients were diagnosed as ‘definite’ ST. The rate of ST was significantly higher in the high WBV group. In multivariate analysis, adjusted for other factors, higher WBV significantly increased risk of ST at both shear rates. Being an easily accessible and costless parameter, WBV seems to be an emerging predictor of ST in patients with STEMI.