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Published on: June 28, 2019
Decreased no-reflow in patients with anterior myocardial infarction and pre-infarction angina
D Karila-Cohen1, D Czitrom, E Brochet
1Service de Cardiologie, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France.
Insights
Pre-infarction angina reduces no-reflow after myocardial infarction by preserving microvasculature. This finding suggests a mechanism for improved left ventricular function recovery in patients experiencing angina before a heart attack.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Myocardial Infarction
Background:
- Pre-infarction angina is linked to improved outcomes post-myocardial infarction.
- The impact of pre-infarction angina on microvascular reperfusion after coronary recanalization remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between pre-infarction angina and the incidence of no-reflow following coronary recanalization in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
- To evaluate the effect of pre-infarction angina on myocardial perfusion and subsequent left ventricular function recovery.
Main Methods:
- Intracoronary myocardial contrast echocardiography was used to assess myocardial perfusion in the area at risk after successful coronary recanalization.
- Left ventricular function was evaluated using radionuclide angiography and 2D echocardiography at various time points post-myocardial infarction.
- Patients were categorized into two groups: those with pre-infarction angina (angina within 7 days before MI) and those without.
Main Results:
- Patients with pre-infarction angina exhibited significantly higher myocardial contrast echocardiography perfusion scores in the area at risk compared to those without.
- The incidence of no-reflow was substantially lower in patients with pre-infarction angina (14%) versus those without (56%).
- Pre-infarction angina was associated with greater mid-term improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction and regional wall motion recovery.
Conclusions:
- Pre-infarction angina is associated with preserved microvasculature and reduced no-reflow after myocardial infarction.
- The protective effect on microvasculature may explain the enhanced recovery of left ventricular function observed in patients with pre-infarction angina.
Aims:
Pre-infarction angina is associated with better outcome after myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to assess whether pre-infarction angina is associated with decreased no-reflow after coronary recanalization.
Methods And Results:
Twenty-three patients underwent intracoronary myocardial contrast echocardiography during the acute phase of anterior myocardial infarction after successful recanalization, and before hospital discharge. Myocardial perfusion was graded semi-quantitatively in the area at risk (dyssynergic segments). Global left ventricular function was assessed by radionuclide angiography on days 8 and 42 and regional wall motion was assessed by 2D echocardiography on days 0 and 42. Fourteen patients had pre-infarction angina (angina less than 7 days before myocardial infarction) and nine did not. Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. The myocardial contrast echocardiography perfusion score in the area at risk after recanalization was higher in the patients with pre-infarction angina than in those without (0.72 +/- 0.19 vs 0.53 +/- 0.22, P=0.04), and the incidence of no-reflow (myocardial contrast echocardiography perfusion score < or =0.5) was lower (14% vs 56%, P=0.04). This difference persisted 8 +/- 2 days after myocardial infarction (0. 87 +/- 0.11 vs 0.69 +/- 0.26, P=0.04), and was associated with greater mid-term (day 42) improvement in left ventricular function in patients with pre-infarction angina than in those without, as assessed by changes in radionuclide left ventricular ejection fraction (+5.8 +/- 8.1% vs -3.3 +/- 4.6%, respectively;P=0.01) and by changes in regional wall motion score on 2D echocardiography (-0. 61 +/- 0.39 vs -0.24 +/- 0.17, respectively;P=0.04).
Conclusion:
Pre-infarction angina is associated with preservation of the microvasculature, reflected by reduced no-reflow. This may be a mechanism underlying greater recovery of left ventricular function in patients with pre-infarction angina.
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