Sequential Evaluation of Coronary Flow Patterns after Primary Angioplasty in Acute Anterior ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Predicts Recovery of Left Ventricular Systolic Function

BackgroundFunction of the microcirculation after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is dynamic and contributes to unpredictability of recovery of left ventricular (LV) systolic function. AimThis study was conducted to evaluate sequential Doppler velocity parameters of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in predicting recovery of global and regional LV systolic function. MethodsThirty-five consecutive patients, 24 males, age 5912 years, with acute anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who had primary PCI were studied. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) and myocardial blush grades were evaluated. Transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) studies, evaluation of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), LAD territory wall-motion score index (WMSI), and sampling of LAD Doppler velocities up to 6hours post-PCI, 48hours postprocedure, and predischarge were performed. ResultsThrombolysis in myocardial infarction grade before PCI averaged 0.86 +/- 1.19 and post-PCI 2.89 +/- 0.32, P<0.05. Myocardial blush grade before PCI was 0.41 +/- 0.98 and after PCI 2.22 +/- 0.93, P<0.05. Diastolic velocity deceleration time (DDT) in the LAD early after PCI was less than 600ms in 16 subjects. Immediately after PCI, in subjects with DDT>600ms, LVEF was 38.5 +/- 6% and predischarge 49.2 +/- 8.7%, P=9.77x10(-5) and LAD-WMSI decreased from 2 +/- 0.38 to 1.4 +/- 0.48, P=0.000163. In subjects with DDT<600ms LAD-WMSI did not change significantly. Early and minimal LAD-DDT correlated with improvement in LV systolic function, r=0.6, whereas post-PCI blush grade had lower correlation with LVEF, r=0.39. ConclusionsGlobal and regional LV systolic function after PCI in acute anterior MI can be predicted by LAD-DDT better than by post-PCI myocardial blush.