The impact of functional risk area severity on LV dilatation and occurrence of heart failure after acute anterior MI

Functional risk area assessed by 99mTc tetrofosmin (TF) measured on arrival is most powerful determinant of infarct size. However, the impact of AAR on LV dilatation and heart failure is not known. We studied 51 patients with anterior AMI who were recanalized by PTCA. Pts were divided into 3 groups according to the size of AAR (small AAR(n=17), moderate AAR(n=17), large AAR(n=17)). LVG and TF imaging were performed on arrival and 6 months after onset. The LVEDVI increased in large AAR than small and moderate AAR (deltaLVEDVI small:.−4.7 ± 10.5, moderate: 13.1 ± 17.8, large 24.6 ± 25.7 p < 0.05). There were 2 deaths in-hospital, 2 out-hospital death and 4 admission due to HF during mean F/U of 3 years. These data suggest strong impact of the severity of AAR on the patients long term prognosis.