INFLUENCE OF SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION ON INFARCT SIZE ASSESSED BY CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION PATIENTS.

Background: It is well-known that vulnerable plaques are associated with an enhanced inflammatory response, causing overexpression of the vulnerability features, with consequent rupture and thrombosis, leading to acute myocardial events. Objective: We aim to assess the correlations between the extension of infarcted area, evaluated via cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and inflammatory status at 1 day after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Material and methods: We studied 70 patients admitted with AMI, divided in 3 group based on infarct size (IS) at 1-month after AMI, as follows: group 1 with IS <10% (n=12), group 2 with IS between 10-20% (n=35), group 3 with IS>30% (n=23). Day 1 hs-CRP was performed in order to establish the inflammatory status. Peak hs-CRP was determined for each patient. Results: Peak hs-CRP value of 6.46 mg/dl was obtained in small infarct size group, 19.04 mg/dl in intermediate infarct size group and 54.76 mg/dl in large infarct size group, p=0.0019. Positive significant correlation was obtained between day 1 hs-CRP and infarct size (p=0.009, r=0.089). Peak hs-CRP values presented positive significant correlation with infarct size (p=0.019, r=0.223). Conclusions: Inflammatory status present positive correlation with 1-month infarct size. Higher peak hs-CRP level during AMI is associated with greater infarct size at 1-month follow-up CMR assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]