Evaluation and management of special subgroups after primary percutaneous coronary intervention

In recent decades, the increased use of novel pharmacologic therapies and primary percutaneous coronary intervention has considerably improved survival in the setting of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Nevertheless, optimal management and care of particular subgroups of patients such as the elderly and individuals with diabetes mellitus, renal dysfunction, or cardiogenic shock are still debated. In fact, because of their clinically relevant comorbidities, these patients are often excluded from randomized trials; thus, data are largely limited to those from retrospective cohorts or subgroup analyses of large clinical studies. These particular subgroups of patients require special management during and after prompt mechanical reperfusion because of their high risk of both thrombotic and bleeding events. Therefore, cardiologists should accurately assess the risk-benefit equation before administrating and dosing currently available antithrombotic and antiplatelets agents in these high-risk populations.