Patient characteristics
| EPO (n=26) | Placebo (n=25) | |
| Age, mean years | 55.5 (12.8) | 61 (10.0) |
| Men | 23 (88) | 21 (84) |
| Hypercholesterolaemia | 7 (30) | 13 (50) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 3 (12) | 2 (8) |
| Hypertension | 10 (39) | 13 (50) |
| Family history of IHD | 4 (17) | 5 (21) |
| Previous myocardial infarction | 2 (9) | 1 (4) |
| Previous angina | 1 (4) | 1 (4) |
| Respiratory disease | 2 (9) | 1 (4) |
| Smoking status | ||
| Never | 10 (38) | 9 (36) |
| Ex-smoker | 5 (19) | 4 (16) |
| Current | 11 (43) | 12 (48) |
| Medication at presentation (%) | ||
| Aspirin | 5 (19) | 5 (20) |
| Clopidogrel | 0 | 0 |
| ACE-I/ARB | 4 (15) | 6 (24) |
| β-Blocker | 1 (4) | 2 (8) |
| CCB | 3 (12) | 1 (4) |
| Statin | 4 (15) | 6 (24) |
| Nitrate | 1 (4) | 0 |
| Sulphonylurea | 1 (4) | 2 (8) |
| Metformin | 2 (8) | 2 (8) |
| PPI | 1 (4) | 1 (4) |
| Blood result at presentation | ||
| Haemoglobin (g/dl) | 14.7 (1.2) | 14.2 (1.1) |
| Haematocrit | 0.42 (0.03) | 0.41 (0.03) |
| Platelet count (109/l) | 256 (53) | 254 (76) |
| Prothrombin time (s) | 10.7 (0.7) | 10.5 (0.5) |
| Creatinine (μmol/l) | 83 (15) | 79 (14) |
| Blood result day 2 | ||
| Haemoglobin (g/dl) | 13.6 (1.6) | 13.6 (1.6) |
| Haematocrit | 0.40 (0.04) | 0.39 (0.04) |
| Platelet count (109/l) | 217 (53) | 234 (83) |
| Creatinine (μmol/l) | 83 (14) | 82 (15) |
| Culprit vessel | ||
| LAD | 10 (38) | 13 (52) |
| LCx | 7 (27) | 4 (16) |
| RCA | 9 (35) | 8 (32) |
| Symptom to PPCI time, mean (min) | 224 (104) | 257 (156) |
| Door to balloon time, mean (min) | 56 (24) | 39 (16) |
| Medication during PPCI | ||
| Aspirin | 26 (100) | 25 (100) |
| Clopidogrel | 26 (100) | 25 (100) |
| Heparin | 26 (100) | 25 (100) |
| Opiate | 15 (58) | 13 (52) |
| Nitrate | 13 (50) | 16 (64) |
| Abciximab | 25 (96) | 23 (92) |
| Metoclopramide | 7 (27) | 10 (40) |
| Atropine | 4 (15) | 7 (28) |
| Mean TIMI flow before PPCI (grade) | 0 | 0 |
| Mean TIMI flow after PPCI (grade) | 2.92 | 2.96 |
| Rentrop grade (collateralisation) | 0 | 0 |
| Thrombectomy device used | 9 (35) | 1(4) |
| Lesion predilated | 25 (96) | 23 (92) |
| Direct stent to lesion | 1 (4) | 2 (8) |
| Bare metal stent | 17 (65) | 16 (64)* |
| Drug-eluting stent | 9 (35) | 10 (40)* |
| Mean arterial pressure, mm Hg | ||
| Pre-PCI | 110 (14) | 111 (22) |
| Post-PCI | 97 (16) | 95 (22) |
| Day 2 | 93 (14) | 95 (11) |
| Follow-up | 102 (15) | 103 (17) |
| Median length of hospital stay, days (range) | 3.0 (2–6) | 3.5 (2–10) |
| Medication on discharge (%) | ||
| Aspirin | 25 (96) | 25 (100) |
| Clopidogrel | 26 (100) | 25 (100) |
| ACE-I/ARB | 25 (96) | 25 (100) |
| β-Blocker | 23 (88) | 20 (80) |
| Statin | 26 (100) | 25 (100) |
| PPI | 3 (13) | 1 (5) |
| Medication at follow-up (%) | ||
| Aspirin | 16 (89) | 14 (88) |
| Clopidogrel | 12 (67) | 12 (75) |
| ACE-I/ARB | 17 (94) | 13 (81) |
| β-Blocker | 14 (78) | 12 (75) |
| Statin | 15 (83) | 13 (81) |
| PPI | 1 (6) | 1 (6) |
| Median time to acute CMR scan (range) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–6) |
| Median time to follow-up CMR scan (range) | 126 (116–160) | 131 (106–163) |
Data are number (%) or mean (SD).
* One patient received both bare metal and drug-eluting stent.
ACE-I, ACE inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin II receptor blocker; CCB, calcium channel blocker; CMR, cardiac magnetic resonance; IHD, ischaemic heart disease; LAD, left anterior descending artery; LCx, left circumflex artery; PPI, proton pump inhibitor; (P)PCI, (Primary) percutaneous coronary intervention; RCA, right coronary artery.