Endothelial dysfunction evaluated by peripheral arterial tonometry is related with peak TnI values in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty.

PURPOSE: The role of endothelial-dependent function in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is not clear. Endothelial dysfunction may contribute to the pathophysiological processes occurring after STEMI and influence the extension of myocardial necrosis. Endothelial-dependent dysfunction evaluated by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) has already showed to be correlated with microvascular coronary endothelial dysfunction. Our purpose was to evaluate the impact of endothelial dysfunction on peak Troponin I (TnI) values, as a surrogate for the extension of myocardial infarction, in patients with STEMI treated with primary angioplasty (P-PCI). METHODS: 58 patients with STEMI treated with P-PCI (mean age 59.0 ± 14.0 years, 46 males) were included. Endothelial function was assessed by reactive hyperaemia index (RHI) determined by PAT. Patients were divided in two groups according to the previously reported RHI threshold for high risk (1.67). The extension of myocardial necrosis was evaluated by peak TnI levels. RESULTS: RHI median value was 1.78 (IQR0.74);25 patients had endothelial dysfunction (RHI b 1.67). The two groups had no significant differences in age, gender, main risk factors and pain-to-balloon time. Patients with an RHI b 1.67 had significant larger infarcts: TnI 73.5 ng/mL (IQR 114.42 ng/mL) versus TnI 33.2 ng/mL (IQR 65.2 ng/mL); p = 0.028. On multivariate analysis, the presence of an RHI b 1.67 kept significant impact on TnI peak values (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of endothelial-dependent dysfunction, assessed by PAT, is related with higher peak TnI values in STEMI patients treated with P-PCI. These results strength the possibility that endothelial-dependent dysfunction may be a marker of poor prognosis and eventually a therapeutic target in patients with STEMI.

The Index of Microcirculatory Resistance as a Predictor of Echocardiographic Left Ventricular Performance Recovery in Patients With ST-Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Successful Primary Angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between IMR (Index of Microcirculatory Resistance) and the echocardiographic evolution of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic performance after ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI), undergoing primary angioplasty (P-PCI). METHODS: IMR was evaluated immediately after P-PCI. Echocardiograms were performed within the first 24 hours (Echo1) and at 3 months (Echo2): LV volumes, ejection fraction (LVEF), wall motion score index (WMSI), E/é ratio, global longitudinal strain (GLS), and left atrial volume were measured. RESULTS: Forty STEMI patients were divided in 2 groups according to median IMR: Group 1 (IMR < 26), with less microvascular dysfunction, and Group 2 (IMR > = 26), with more microvascular dysfunction. In Echo1 GLS was significantly better in Group 1 (-14.9 vs. -12.9 in Group 2, P = 0.005). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in LV systolic volume, LVEF and WMS. Between Echo1 and Echo2, there were significant improvements in LVEF (0.48 ± 0.06 vs. 0.55 ± 0.06, P < 0.0001), GLS (-14.9 ± 1.3 vs. -17.3 ± 7.6, P = 0.001), and E/é ratio (9.3 ± 3.4 vs. 8.2 ± 2.0, P = 0.037) in Group 1, but not in Group 2: LVEF (0.49 ± 0.06 vs. 0.50 ± 0.05, P = 0.47), GLS (-12.9 ± 2.4 vs. -14.4 ± 3.2, P = 0.052), and E/é ratio (8.8 ± 2.4 vs. 10.0 ± 4.7, P = 0.18). WMSI improved significantly more in Group 1 (reduction of -17.1% vs. -6.8% in Group 2, P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Lower IMR was associated with better myocardial GLS acutely after STEMI, and with a significantly higher recovery of the LVEF, WMSI, E/E' ratio and GLS, suggesting that IMR is an early marker of cardiac recovery, after acute myocardial infarction.

Early peripheral endothelial dysfunction predicts myocardial infarct extension and microvascular obstruction in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The role of endothelial dysfunction (ED) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is poorly understood. Peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) allows non-invasive evaluation of ED, but has never been used for this purpose early after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (P-PCI). Our purpose was to analyze the relation between ED assessed by PAT and both the presence of microvascular obstruction (MVO) and infarct extension in STEMI patients. METHODS: ED was assessed by the reactive hyperemia index (RHI), measured by PAT and defined as RHI <1.67. Infarct extension was assessed by troponin I (TnI) release and contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (ceCMR). MVO was assessed by ceCMR and by indirect angiographic and ECG indicators. An echocardiogram was also performed in the first 12 h. RESULTS: We included 38 patients (mean age 60.0±13.7 years, 29 male). Mean RHI was 1.87±0.60 and 16 patients (42.1%) had ED. Peak TnI (median 118 mg/dl, IQR 186 vs. 67/81, p=0.024) and AUC of TnI (median 2305, IQR 2486 vs. 1076/1042, p=0.012) were significantly higher in patients with ED, who also showed a trend for more transmural infarcts (63.6% vs. 22.2%, p=0.06) and larger infarct mass on ceCMR (median 17.5%, IQR 15.4 vs. 10.1/10.3, p=0.08). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was lower and wall motion score index (WMSI) was higher on both echocardiogram and ceCMR in patients with ED. On ceCMR, MVO was more frequent in patients with RHI <1.67 (54.5% vs. 11.1%, p=0.03). ECG and angiographic indicators of MVO all showed a trend toward worse results in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ED assessed by PAT 24 h after P-PCI in patients with STEMI is associated with larger infarcts, lower LVEF, higher WMSI and higher prevalence of MVO.

Electrocardiographic identification of the infarct-related artery in acute inferior myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION: Mortality and morbidity from acute inferior myocardial infarction (MI) are determined, among other factors, by the infarct-related artery (IRA). Several electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria have been proposed to differentiate between the right coronary artery (RCA) and the left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) as the IRA in inferior MI. Recently, a new criterion has been proposed (ST segment depression in lead aVR). It was our objective to evaluate the old and the new ECG criteria in identifying the IRA in patients with inferior MI. METHODS: Patients with inferior MI treated by primary angioplasty were included, following evaluation of the admission ECG. Patients with a previous history of Q-wave myocardial infarction and complete bundle branch block were excluded. The artery with the most severe lesion was considered the IRA. The following ECG criteria were assessed: ST depression in lead DI; ST depression in leads V1 and V2, ST elevation in lead DIII > DII, ST depression in V3/ST elevation in DIII ratio > 1.2 (classical criteria) and ST depression in lead aVR. ST-segment elevation or depression was measured 0.06 sec after the J point. RESULTS: 53 patients were included (mean age 59.1 +/- 13.9 years, 38 males). The RCA was the IRA in 38 patients and the LCx in 15. Baseline characteristics (age, gender, TIMI flow, Killip class, and pain-to-balloon time) were similar in both groups. All the classical criteria were able to identify the IRA. The new criterion--ST depression in lead aVR--identified the IRA in a small number of patients (sensitivity 33%, specificity 71%, p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: The 4 classical criteria were useful in identifying the IRA in patients with inferior MI. ST depression in lead aVR (a recently proposed new criterion), on the other hand, showed limited utility in differentiating between RCA and LCx.

PAMI risk score for mortality prediction in acute myocardial indarction treated with primary angioplasty.

OBJECTIVE: Based on the PAMI 1 and 2, AIR PAMI, and STENT PAMI trials, a risk score to predict mortality in patients undergoing primary angioplasty was recently proposed--the PAMI risk score. It includes only 6 parameters. As one of the first tools available to predict mortality in this group of patients, it results from controlled trials, with restricted inclusion criteria. It was our objective to evaluate how the PAMI risk score applies to "real world" patients. METHODS: 149 patients (mean age 58.2 +/- 13.6 years, 113 male) undergoing primary angioplasty were included. The PAMI risk score was applied and the patients were divided in 3 groups: 0 to 2 points (group A), 3 to 6 points (group B) and > or =7 points (group C). RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients (46%) were included in group A, 41 (27%) in group B and 40 (27%) in group C. There were no significant differences in pain-to-balloon times between the 3 groups. Immediate mortality (0%, 2.4% and 15%: p = 0.001), in-hospital mortality (2.9%, 7.3% and 37.5%; p < 0.001), 30-day mortality (2.9%, 7.3% and 37.5%; p < 0.001) and 6-month mortality (4.4%, 14.6% and 45%; p < 0.001) were significantly different between the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The PAMI risk score is a simple prognostic tool, with parameters that can be easily acquired, enabling reliable prediction of immediate, in-hospital, 30-day and 6-month mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty.