title: Angiographic assessment of reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction by myocardial blush grade.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiographic successful reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction has been defined as TIMI 3 flow. However, TIMI 3 flow does not always result in effective myocardial reperfusion. Myocardial blush grade (MBG) is an angiographic measure of myocardial perfusion. We hypothesized that optimal angiographic reperfusion is defined by TIMI 3 flow and MBG 2 or 3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 924 consecutive patients with TIMI 3 flow after angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction, we prospectively studied the value of MBG. End points were death, MACE, enzymatic infarct size, and residual left ventricular ejection fraction. Follow-up was 16+/-11 months. Of the 924 patients, 101 (11%) patients had MBG 0 or 1. Mortality was significantly higher in patients with MBG 0 or 1 compared with patients with MBG 2 or 3 (relative risk, 4.7; 95% CI, 2.3 to 9.5; P<0.001). The combined incidence of MACE was higher in patients with MBG 0 or 1 compared with patients with MBG 2 or 3 (relative risk, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.8; P=0.009). Enzymatic infarct size was larger (1437+/-2388 versus 809+/-1672, P=0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction was lower (37.7+/-10.6 versus 43.8+/-11.1, P<0.001) in patients with MBG 0 or 1 compared with patients with MBG 2 or 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MBG is a strong angiographic predictor of mortality in patients with TIMI 3 flow after primary angioplasty. Enzymatic infarct size is larger and residual left ventricular ejection fraction is lower in patients with MBG 0 or 1 compared with MBG 2 or 3. Angiographic definition of successful reperfusion should include both TIMI 3 flow as well as MBG 2 or 3.
authors.affiliation: Isala Klinieken, Hospital De Weezenlanden, Department of Cardiology, Groot Wezenland 20, 8011 JW Zwolle, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jose P S
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zijlstra
authors.forename: Arnoud W J
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: van 't Hof
authors.forename: Menko-Jan
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: Jan-Henk E
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Dambrink
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gosselink
authors.forename: Jan C A
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hoorntje
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suryapranata
mesh_terms: D017130:Angioplasty; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome