The research accomplishment on clinical practice by CNU Professor Ahn Young-geun's joint research team (Department of Cardiovascular Medicine) has been published in the world's leading medical journal, The Lancet, of the UK, showing off his world-class research capabilities.

Professor Ahn, who is also a faculty member of the Department of Cardiovascular Internal Medicine and the Director of CNU Hospital, conducted co-research on TALOS-AMI with Professor Jang Ki-wook of Catholic University and TALOS-AMI researchers, as well as with Professor Jung Myung-ho and Kim Min-chul as co-authors for the research paper.

The Lancet is a medical journal founded in England in 1823 (impact factor: 79.32) and is considered the most prestigious journal, along with the world’s oldest American journal NEJM. It is known that only a few research papers by Korean scholars have been published in this journal.

Professor Ahn's research team focused on the efficacy and safety of the gradual reduction therapy of antiplatelet drugs after coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The research paper was recognized for its excellence in finding the optimal antiplatelet therapy for Korean patients with thrombotic tendencies, which are rare in Westerners.

Particularly, the research team conducted a study from 2014 - 2019 on the gradual reduction therapy of antiplatelet drugs for patients with acute myocardial infarction, whose condition was stabilized after the crucial period following successful coronary intervention. It has been found that Clopidogrel, an antiplatelet medication, can reduce the risk of bleeding by 48%.

The results of this study have also attracted attention from the American Heart Association and were also presented at the association’s annual conference in May.

Meanwhile, Professor Ahn's joint research team is working on OPTION STEMI, which determines the appropriate timing for non-causal vascular treatment in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction accompanied by multivascular disease. It is expected that the team’s findings can provide important information to patients and medical professionals to decide the best method of treatment. 

Professor Ahn said, “This study provides a new opportunity for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction in Korean patients. We will do our best to provide a new life to patients with acute myocardial infarction through continuous research.”