Serial echocardiographic assessment of the left ventricular function after direct PCI.
BACKGROUND
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) causes remodelling of the left ventricle (LV). Restoration of patency of an infarct-related artery by percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) may prevent or inhibit cardiac remodelling.


OBJECTIVE
To assess LV contractility and function by serial echocardiographic examinations.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 61 patients (47 males, mean age 60+/-10 years) with acute MI treated with direct PCI. Echocardiography was performed 6-8 days after PCI, and 1, 6 and 12 months thereafter.


RESULTS
LV ejection fraction increased significantly at the end of the first month in comparison with the baseline examination whereas EF values obtained after 6 months and after 1 year were not significantly different. Wall motion score index showed a significant improvement after one month, whereas it did not show any further improvement when measured after 6 or 12 months after AMI. The baseline LV end-diastolic diameter was 49+/-6 mm and did not change after one or 6 months, whereas it increased significantly 12 months after AMI. The baseline LV end-systolic diameter was 37+/-5 mm. At the one-month and six-month examinations it was similar to the baseline values but increased significantly to 38+/-6 mm after one year.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm the beneficial effects of PCI-induced infarct-related artery patency on LV remodelling after AMI.
Nechvatal
Libor
L
Department of Cardiology, St. Anna University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.
Hlinomaz
Ota
O
Groch
Ladislav
L
Hornacek
Ivan
I
Sitar
Jan
J
Orban
Marek
M
Petrikovits
Erik
E
D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling