title: Combined assessment of myocardial perfusion and diastolic function enhances risk stratification in patients with anterior wall myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the utility of a combined risk stratification scheme including diastolic dysfunction and "no-reflow," to identify high-risk patients following acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have demonstrated that the "no-reflow" phenomenon (defined by myocardial contrast echocardiography) and severe diastolic dysfunction (identified by Doppler echocardiography) identify patients at high risk for mortality following AMI.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 111 patients with recent anterior acute myocardial infarction from July 2000 to June 2004. Diastolic function and myocardial perfusion was evaluated by echocardiography. Patients were placed into 1 of 3 groups based on diastolic function and myocardial perfusion: Group 1 (normal perfusion and normal diastolic function), Group 2 (abnormal perfusion or abnormal diastolic function), and Group 3 (abnormal perfusion and abnormal diastolic function). We compared the long term all-cause mortality within these groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in each group were similar with respect to myocardial infarction size as defined by biomarkers, extent and severity of coronary artery disease, and medical and interventional therapy. Mortality was much higher in Group 3 (26.9%) compared to Group 1 (0%) and Group 2 (15.2%) (p = 0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined assessment of diastolic function and myocardial perfusion enhances risk stratification post myocardial infarction.
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, Missouri 64111, USA.
authors.forename: Taiyeb M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Khumri
authors.forename: Brandy L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magalski
authors.forename: Becky A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Tina R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Coggins
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Kusnetzky
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: House
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Main
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index