Optical Coherence Tomography Assessment of Gender diVersity In Primary Angioplasty. The OCTAVIA Trial

Recent studies suggest important gender differences in the pathophysiology and prognosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This is the first prospective controlled study to assess gender differences in the mechanism of plaque rupture/erosion and thrombus formation in patients presenting with STEMI treated with primary angioplasty. Gender-related mechanisms of plaque rupture or erosion will be investigated using a combination of Quantitative Coronary Angiography, high resolution Optical Coherence Tomography of the culprit vessel and histopathologic analyses of thrombus aspirates of the infarct related lesion, performed by independent core laboratories, blinded to group (male or female) and clinical variables.