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Background: Myocardial necrosis is a time-dependent event. Nevertheless, clinical studies on association between ischemic time and left ventricle function showed inconsistent findings. Aim of current study is to evaluate the association between ischemic time and the post-infarction left ventricular function in ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary PCI., Methods: In 2529 patients treated with primary PCI, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured before discharge (median day 4) by radionuclide ventriculography or by echocardiography if patients had atrial fibrillation. Ischemic time was calculated from symptom onset to first balloon inflation., Results: The correlation between ischemic time as continuous variable and LVEF was significant but weak (P=0.002, r=-0.062). The LVEF of patients in ischemic time intervals of >6, >3-6, and ≤3 h was 45.1±11.7%, 44.6±11.9%, and 43.2±12.2%, respectively (P=0.029). Adjusted odds ratio of the ischemic time intervals for LVEF<40% was 1.14 (95% CI 1.00-1.30). TIMI flow 0 before and TIMI flow 3 after PCI were related with both longer ischemic time and low LVEF., Conclusion: Ischemic time was associated with post infarction LVEF in patients treated with primary PCI, although this association was weak. Initial TIMI flow and post-PCI TIMI flow played important role in impact of the ischemic time on the LVEF., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: In the present study we sought to determine the long-term prognostic value of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), assessed by planar radionuclide ventriculography (PRV), after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI)., Methods: In total 925 patients underwent PRV for LVEF assessment after PPCI for myocardial infarction before discharge from the hospital. PRV was performed with a standard dose of 500 Mbq of 99mTc-pertechnetate. Average follow-up time was 2.5 years., Results: Mean (+/- SD) age was 60 +/- 12 years. Mean (+/- SD) LVEF was 45.7 +/- 12.2 %. 1 year survival was 97.3 % and 3 year survival was 94.2 %. Killip class, multi vessel-disease, previous cardiovascular events, peak creatin kinase and its MB fraction, age and LVEF proved to be univariate predictors of mortality. When entered in a forward conditional Cox regression model age and LVEF were independent predictors of 1 and 3 year mortality., Conclusion: LVEF assessed by PRV is a powerful independent predictor of long term mortality after PPCI for STEMI.

Background: Favorable clinical outcomes have been observed with glucose-insulin-potassium infusion (GIK) in acute myocardial infarction (MI). The mechanisms of this beneficial effect have not been delineated clearly. GIK has metabolic, anti-inflammatory and profibrinolytic effects and it may preserve the ischemic myocardium. We sought to assess the effect of GIK infusion on infarct size and left ventricular function, as part of a randomized controlled trial., Methods: Patients (n = 940) treated for acute MI by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were randomized to GIK infusion or no infusion. Endpoints were the creatinine kinase MB-fraction (CK-MB) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). CK-MB levels were determined 0, 2, 4, 6, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after admission and the LVEF was measured before discharge., Results: There were no differences between the two groups in the time course or magnitude of CK-MB release: the peak CK-MB level was 249 +/- 228 U/L in the GIK group and 240 +/- 200 U/L in the control group (NS). The mean LVEF was 43.7 +/- 11.0 % in the GIK group and 42.4 +/- 11.7% in the control group (P = 0.12). A LVEF < or = 30% was observed in 18% in the controls and in 12% of the GIK group (P = 0.01)., Conclusion: Treatment with GIK has no effect on myocardial function as determined by LVEF and by the pattern or magnitude of enzyme release. However, left ventricular function was preserved in GIK treated patients.

Aims: To investigate changes in left ventricular function in the first 6 months after acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty. To assess clinical variables, associated with recovery of left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction., Methods: Changes in left ventricular function were studied in 600 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction, all treated with primary angioplasty. Left ventricular ejection fraction was measured by radionuclide ventriculography in survivors at day 4 and after 6 months. Patients with a recurrent myocardial infarction within the 6 months were excluded., Results: Successful reperfusion (TIMI 3 flow) by primary angioplasty was achieved in 89% of patients. The mean ejection fraction at discharge was 43.7%+/-11.4, whereas the mean ejection fraction after 6 months was 46.3%+/-11.5 (P<0.01). During the 6 months, the mean relative improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction was 6%. An improvement in left ventricular function was observed in 48% of the patients; 25% of the patients had a decrease, whereas in the remaining patients there was no change. After univariate and multivariate analysis, an anterior infarction location, an ejection fraction at discharge < or =40% and single-vessel disease were significant predictors of left ventricular improvement during the 6 months., Conclusions: After acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty there was a significant recovery of left ventricular function during the first 6 months after the infarction. An anterior myocardial infarction, single-vessel coronary artery disease, and an initially depressed left ventricular function were independently associated with recovery of left ventricular function. Multivessel disease was associated with absence of functional recovery. Additional studies, investigating complete revascularization are needed, as this approach may potentially improve long-term left ventricular function., (Copyright 2001 The European Society of Cardiology.)

Aims: Left ventricular function is an important outcome measure in patients with coronary artery disease, in particular in patients after myocardial infarction. It is reliably assessed by radionuclide angiography, but echocardiographic wall motion scoring might be an attractive alternative., Methods: Four days after reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction both radionuclide angiography and echocardiography were performed in 90 patients. Segmental wall motion scoring (WMSI) and visual estimation of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was done by 2 independent observers. Repeated analysis was performed 1 month after the first reading. In 41 patients the LVEF was assessed quantitatively by tracing of endocardial outlines of the left ventricle., Results: Both correlation with radionuclide angiography (estimated LVEF: r = 0.71, WMSI: r = -0.68, Tracing: r = 0.59) and inter- and intra-observer variability (estimated LVEF: 19% and 15%, WMSI: 65% and 59%) were in favour of the LVEF estimation method. Correlation with radionuclide angiography measurements was related to the quality of the echocardiogram and to the extent of coronary artery disease., Conclusion: Simple echocardiographic estimation of left ventricular ejection fraction in patients after reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction proved to be superior to quantitative assessment of ejection fraction and to segmental wall motion scoring in comparison with radionuclide angiography.

Background: Early and effective flow through the infarct-related vessel is probably of paramount importance for limitation of infarct size and preservation of left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Primary coronary angioplasty may offer advantages in these respects compared with thrombolytic therapy. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects on estimated enzymatic infarct size and left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction randomly assigned to undergo primary angioplasty or to receive intravenous streptokinase., Methods and Results: We evaluated 301 patients with signs of acute myocardial infarction and without contraindications for thrombolysis who presented within 6 hours after onset of symptoms or between 6 and 24 hours if there was evidence of ongoing ischemia. One hundred fifty-two patients were randomly assigned to undergo primary angioplasty, and 149 patients were assigned to receive treatment with streptokinase (1.5 million U i.v.). Infarct size was estimated from enzyme release. Global left ventricular ejection fraction and regional wall motion, if possible in combination with exercise testing, were evaluated by radionuclide ventriculography before discharge. Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade 3 through the infarct-related vessel within 120 minutes after admission was achieved in 92% of all patients assigned to receive primary angioplasty therapy. Myocardial infarct size was 23% smaller in the angioplasty group compared with patients assigned to receive streptokinase (1003 +/- 784 versus 1310 +/- 1198 U/L, P = .012). Global left ventricular ejection fraction (50 +/- 9% versus 45 +/- 11%, P < .001) and regional wall motion in the infarct-related zones (42 +/- 14% versus 34 +/- 13%, P < .001) were better in the angioplasty group, which could mainly be contributed to myocardial salvage in the infarct-related areas. The observed differences were more pronounced in patients with an anterior wall myocardial infarction, although patients with a nonanterior infarct location also showed a beneficial effect of primary coronary angioplasty on left ventricular function compared with streptokinase therapy. Furthermore, the observed differences appeared to be more pronounced in patients presenting relatively early (within 2 hours) after onset of symptoms., Conclusions: In patients with acute myocardial infarction, primary angioplasty results in a smaller infarct size and a better preserved myocardial function compared with patients randomized to receive treatment with intravenous streptokinase. This is probably due to early and optimal blood flow through the infarct-related vessel, as can be accomplished in a very high percentage of patients undergoing primary coronary angioplasty.