title: Prediction of decrease in myocardial perfusion defect size and severity during a 3-month follow-up by the degree of acute resolution of electrocardiographic changes.
abstract: Myocardial perfusion in infarct-related artery (IRA) distribution improves progressively until a few months after successful reperfusion therapy. We assessed the rate of electrocardiographic (ECG) stage dynamics to predict perfusion improvement after mechanical, thrombolytic, or spontaneous recanalization of IRA. Thirteen patients were divided into group A (n = 8, with > or = 2 ECG stages per 2-day change rate) and group B (n = 5, no rapid change of ECG stages). There were no significant technetium Tc 99m sestamibi scintigraphic differences between the groups 3 days after recanalization; however, after 3 months, perfusion deficit size (2.8 +/- 1.8 vs 4.8 +/- 1.2, P < or = .03) and severity (1.8 +/- 0.9 vs 3.0 +/- 0, P < or = .03) were smaller in group A vs group B. The prediction sensitivity of the method was 87.5% for decrease in size and 100% for decrease in severity of perfusion defect; the specificity was 80% and 100%, respectively. A change rate of 2 or more ECG stages per 2 days predicts follow-up improvement of myocardial perfusion after IRA recanalization.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania. eglekalin@centras.lt
authors.forename: Egle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalinauskiene
authors.forename: Edvardas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vaicekavicius
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kulakiene
mesh_terms: D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity