title: Cardiac magnetic resonance evaluation of edema after ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of the study were to characterize myocardial edema after ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and to investigate its impact on ventricular function and its subsequent evolution.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 134 patients admitted to hospital for a first ST-elevation myocardial infarction who had a patent infarct-related artery underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Cine images (at rest and with low-dose dobutamine) and edema, perfusion and viability images were acquired. Imaging was repeated after 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first week after infarction, edema was detected in at least one segment in 96.6% of patients (4+/-2.1 segments per patient). Extensive edema (> or = 4 segments) was associated with large ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (P< .0001), a small left ventricular ejection fraction at rest (P=.001) and with low-dose dobutamine (P=.006), a large number of segments showing hypoperfusion (P=.001) or microvascular obstruction (P=.009), a more extensive infarct (P=.017) and greater transmural extent of the infarct (P=.003). The association between the presence and extent of edema during the first week and functional, perfusion and viability variables was still observable after 6 months. No patient exhibited edema at 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was useful for characterizing the myocardial edema that occurred after ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction. Extensive edema was associated with poor left ventricular characteristics. Edema was a transitory phenomenon that vanished within 6 months.
authors.affiliation: ERESA, Unidad de Imagen Cardiaca, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain. jmonmeneu@eresa.com
authors.forename: José V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Monmeneu
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bodí
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanchis
authors.forename: María P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: López-Lereu
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mainar
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: Fabián
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chaustre
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rumiz
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Chorro
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Llácer
mesh_terms: D004489:Edema, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology