The investigators designed the HEALING-AMI study to compare the influence of ticagrelor (180 mg loading and 90 mg twice daily maintenance) vs. clopidogrel (600 mg loading and 75 mg daily maintenance) on long-term left ventricular (LV) remodeling measured by 3D echocardiography in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.~The primary objective of the HEALING-AMI study is to demonstrate the novel role of long-term ticagrelor therapy in reducing the risk of LV remodeling,. The secondary objectives are to reveal the cross-talk between platelet and inflammatory process in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Moreover, this study will determine whether the high platelet inhibition by ticagrelor culminate the protection of infarcted myocardium.
The purpose of the study is to evaluate the novel role of ticagrelor to improve long-term LV remodeling following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.