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Updated: Aug 10, 2025

In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
[Microvascular perfusion and cardiac function after revascularization assessed by myocardial contrast
1Department of Cardiology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Early Prediction and Intervention of Acute Myocardial Infarction, Center for Cardiovascular Translational Research, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.
Insights
Nearly 60% of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients show abnormal microvascular perfusion after percutaneous coronary intervention, indicating impaired left ventricular function. Left anterior descending artery culprit lesions and intraoperative no-reflow are key risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
Context:
- Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) requires prompt revascularization.
- Microvascular dysfunction can persist post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), impacting outcomes.
- Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) assesses microvascular perfusion and ventricular function.
Purpose:
- To evaluate microvascular perfusion and left ventricular (LV) function post-PCI in STEMI patients using MCE.
- To identify clinical factors associated with abnormal microvascular perfusion.
Summary:
- This cross-sectional study analyzed 123 STEMI patients undergoing PCI.
- Abnormal myocardial perfusion was observed in 59.3% of patients.
- Abnormal perfusion correlated with worse LV systolic (lower GLS) and diastolic (higher E/Em, WMSI) function.
Impact:
- High incidence of abnormal perfusion post-PCI highlights the need for targeted interventions.
- Left anterior descending artery as culprit vessel, intraoperative no/low-reflow, and peak troponin I are independent risk factors for abnormal perfusion.
- Echocardiographic parameters like deceleration time, E/Em, and WMSI are independently associated with perfusion abnormalities.
Abstract:
Objectives: To evaluate microvascular perfusion and left ventricular function in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after revascularization using myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE), and to explore clinical influencing factors of abnormal microvascular perfusion in these patients. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The analysis was performed among patients admitted to Peking University People's Hospital for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) from June 2018 to July 2021. All patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and completed MCE within 48 hours after PCI. Patients were divided into normal myocardial perfusion group and abnormal perfusion group according to the myocardial perfusion score. The echocardiographic indexes within 48 hours after PCI, including peak mitral valve flow velocity (E), mean value of early diastolic velocity of left ventricular septum and lateral mitral annulus (Em), left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) and so on, were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the influencing factors of myocardial perfusion abnormalities. Results: A total of 123 STEMI patients, aged 59±13 years with 93 (75.6%) males, were enrolled. There were 50 cases in the normal myocardial perfusion group, and 73 cases in the abnormal myocardial perfusion group. The incidence of abnormal myocardial perfusion was 59.3% (73/123). The left ventricular volume index ((62.3±18.4)ml/m2 vs. (55.1±15.2)ml/m2, P=0.018), wall motion score index (WMSI) (1.59 (1.44, 2.00) vs. 1.24(1.00, 1.47), P<0.001) and mitral E/Em (17.8(12.0, 24.3) vs. 12.2(9.2, 15.7), P<0.001) were significantly higher whereas left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) ((-10.8±3.4)% vs. (-13.8±3.5)%, P<0.001) was significantly lower in the abnormal myocardial perfusion group than those in the normal myocardial perfusion group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that left anterior descending (LAD) as culprit vessel (OR=3.733, 95%CI 1.282-10.873, P=0.016), intraoperative no/low-reflow (OR=6.125, 95%CI 1.299-28.872, P=0.022), and peak troponin I (TnI) (OR=1.018, 95%CI 1.008-1.029, P=0.001) were independent risk factors of abnormal myocardial perfusion. As for ultrasonic indexes, deceleration time of mitral E wave (OR=0.979, 95%CI 0.965-0.993, P=0.003), mitral E/Em (OR=1.100, 95%CI 1.014-1.194, P=0.022) and WMSI (OR=7.470, 95%CI 2.630-21.222, P<0.001) were independently related to abnormal myocardial perfusion. Conclusions: The incidence of abnormal myocardial perfusion after PCI is high in patients with acute STEMI. Abnormal myocardial perfusion is related to worse left ventricular systolic and diastolic function. LAD as culprit vessel, intraoperative no/low-reflow and peak TnI are independent risk factors of abnormal myocardial perfusion.
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