Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Permanent Ligation of the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery in Mice: A Model of Post-myocardial Infarction Remodelling and Heart Failure
Published on: December 2, 2014
Microvascular obstruction is a major determinant of infarct healing and subsequent left ventricular remodelling
Stein Ørn1, Cord Manhenke, Ole Jacob Greve
1Division of Cardiology, Stavanger University Hospital, PO 8400, Stavanger 4068, Norway. drsteinorn@hotmail.com
Aims:
We studied the time-dependent relationships between microvascular obstruction (MO), infarct size, and left ventricular (LV) remodelling after acute myocardial infarction (MI).
Methods And Results:
Forty-two consecutive patients with first-time ST-elevation MI, single-vessel disease, successfully treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included. Microvascular obstruction, infarct size, and LV remodelling were assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance. Cardiac magnetic resonance was performed at: 2 days, 1 week, 2 months, and 1 year following PCI. Microvascular obstruction was assessed by first-pass perfusion. Patients were divided into three groups according to the presence or absence of MO at 2 days and 1 week: no detectable MO at any time point (11 patients), MO detectable only at 2 days (16 patients), and MO detectable both at 2 days and 1 week (15 patients). In multivariable analysis adjusting for infarct size at 2 days, detectable MO at 1 week was an independent predictor (P = 0.003) of infarct size at 1 year follow-up, associated with adverse infarct healing, adverse LV remodelling, increased LV volumes, and lower ejection fractions when compared with the rest of the cohort.
Conclusion:
Microvascular obstruction is an important determinant of infarct healing. The effect of MO on infarct size translated into distinct patterns of LV remodelling during long-term follow-up.
Insights
Microvascular obstruction (MO) after myocardial infarction (MI) impacts long-term infarct healing and left ventricular (LV) remodeling. Persistent MO at one week post-MI predicts larger infarct size and adverse LV changes over one year.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Myocardial Infarction Research
Background:
- Acute myocardial infarction (MI) can lead to microvascular obstruction (MO), affecting heart muscle recovery.
- Left ventricular (LV) remodeling is a significant predictor of long-term outcomes after MI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the time-dependent relationship between MO, infarct size, and LV remodeling following acute MI.
- To determine if MO predicts long-term adverse outcomes after successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Main Methods:
- Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging was used to assess MO, infarct size, and LV remodeling in 42 patients with ST-elevation MI.
- CMR assessments were performed at 2 days, 1 week, 2 months, and 1 year post-PCI.
- Patients were stratified into groups based on the presence and duration of MO detected at 2 days and 1 week.
Main Results:
- Microvascular obstruction detected at 1 week post-MI was an independent predictor of larger infarct size at 1-year follow-up.
- Persistent MO was associated with adverse infarct healing, adverse LV remodeling, increased LV volumes, and reduced ejection fraction.
- The presence and duration of MO influenced the patterns of LV remodeling over the long term.
Conclusions:
- Microvascular obstruction is a critical determinant of infarct healing processes after acute MI.
- The impact of MO on infarct size has significant implications for long-term LV remodeling and cardiac function.
