title: Early resolution of ST-segment elevation correlates with myocardial salvage assessed by Tc-99m sestamibi scintigraphy in patients with acute myocardial infarction after mechanical or thrombolytic reperfusion therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early resolution of ST-segment elevation is an indicator of final infarct size and clinical outcomes. Whether this correlation is an expression of initial infarct characteristics or degree of myocardial salvage achieved with reperfusion therapy is unclear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We prospectively included 243 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with either coronary stenting (122 patients) or thrombolysis (121 patients). Serial 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECG) were performed at baseline and 90 minutes after initiation of therapy. ST-segment resolution was defined as complete (> or =70%), partial (<70% to 30%), or no resolution (<30%). Paired technetium-99m sestamibi scintigraphic studies were performed to calculate the initial perfusion defect, final infarct size, and the proportion of initial defect salvaged with reperfusion (salvage index). ST-segment resolution correlated significantly with salvage index (P=0.008), final infarct size (P<0.001), and 6-month mortality (P=0.03). In the groups with complete, partial, and no resolution, salvage index was 0.54+/-0.32, 0.39+/-0.36, and 0.33+/-0.60; final infarct size was 12.5+/-12.0%, 20.0+/-13.9%, and 22.7+/-19.4% of the left ventricle; 6-month mortality was 2.4%, 6.2%, and 12.8%, respectively. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, ST-segment resolution was the second strongest predictor of salvage index (P=0.007) after the type of reperfusion, stenting, or thrombolysis (P=0.001); it was greater after stenting than after thrombolysis (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early resolution of ST-segment elevation in surface ECG correlates with myocardial salvage as assessed by scintigraphy in patients with AMI after reperfusion therapy. These data provide an explanation for the favorable prognostic value of the ST-segment resolution and support the use of this parameter to compare the efficacy of different reperfusion strategies.
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Herzzentrum and 1. Medizinische Klinik rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Gjin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ndrepepa
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Julinda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehilli
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmieder
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwaiger
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schömig
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kastrati
mesh_terms: D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D011875:Radionuclide Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015607:Stents; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi