Background. The aim of the study was to assess the safety, feasibility and efficacy of mechanical distal protection during primary angioplasty using FilterWire EZ® (FW). Method and Results. Thirty-one patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were treated by primary angioplasty with distal protection using FW. The results were compared with a matched control group consisting of 33 patients with AMI treated by primary angioplasty alone. Successful FW positioning was obtained in 30 patients (97 %). In these patients a lower rate of distal embolisation (3 vs. 18%, p=0,04) was found and a more effective reperfusion was assessed by ST elevation’s resolution >50% immediately after the procedure (83 vs.61 %, p=0,05). A higher number of patients with corrected TIMI frame count <27 in FW group supported more effective reperfusion to but this difference did not reached statistical significance (87 vs. 73 %, p=0,09). There were no differences between groups regarding average peak CK and CK-MB. However, there is a trend to lower release in FW group (32,1±24,5 vs. 35,3±31,0, p= 0,33; 4,2±3 vs. 4,4±3,7, p=0,44). Conclusions. The presented study confirmed that distal embolisation during primary angioplasty is a frequent phenomenon. In this setting, adjunctive use of the FW is feasible and save, and it may improve myocardial reperfusion by reducing the embolic events.

        Key words: acute myocardial infarction, primary angioplasty, embolism, distal protection.