title: Usefulness of myocardial contrast echocardiography in predicting late mortality in patients with anterior wall acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: We investigated whether myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) performed soon after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) improves risk stratification for late mortality. MCE after AMI identifies microvascular "no-reflow" and predicts early outcomes; however, the predictive value of MCE for late mortality is unknown. One hundred sixty-seven patients with anterior AMI and left ventricular dysfunction underwent MCE 2 days after admission, and a perfusion score index (PSI) was calculated. Long-term follow-up (mean 39 months) was available for all patients. Patients with normal and abnormal perfusion had similar baseline characteristics. Myocardial contrast echocardiographic PSI was a predictor of mortality as a continuous variable (odds ratio 3.2 for each 1.0 increase in PSI, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 9.7, p = 0.04). In a logistic regression model, age (odds ratio 2.6 per decade, 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 4.4, p = 0.0002) and PSI (odds ratio 4.5 for each 1.0 increase in PSI, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 15.4, p = 0.02) were the only significant predictors of mortality. In a subanalysis comparing patients >70 years old with abnormal PSI with all other patients, Kaplan-Meier estimates showed a marked difference in survival over a mean follow-up of 39 months (24% vs 4% mortality, p = 0.0002). In conclusion, MCE refines risk stratification soon after anterior AMI in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Patients at very high and very low risk of mortality can be identified, and myocardial contrast echocardiographic data are incrementally useful compared with existing clinical and angiographic variables.
authors.affiliation: The Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Taiyeb M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Khumri
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nayyar
authors.forename: Madhuri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Idupulapati
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magalski
authors.forename: Casey N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Stoner
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Kusnetzky
authors.forename: Mikhail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kosiborod
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Spertus
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Main
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality*; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality