Myocardial salvage by CMR correlates with LV remodeling and early ST-segment resolution in acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the association of myocardial salvage by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with left ventricular (LV) remodeling and early ST-segment resolution in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).


BACKGROUND
Experimental studies revealed that MI size is strongly influenced by the extent of the area at risk (AAR), limiting its accuracy as a marker of reperfusion treatment efficacy in acute MI studies. Hence, an index correcting MI size for AAR extent is warranted. T2-weighted CMR and delayed-enhancement CMR, respectively, enable the determination of AAR and MI size, and the myocardial salvage index (MSI) is calculated by correcting MI size for AAR extent. Nevertheless, the clinical value of CMR-derived MSI has not been evaluated yet.


METHODS
In a prospective cohort of 137 consecutive patients with acutely reperfused ST-segment elevation MI, CMR was performed at 1 week and 4 months. T2-weighted CMR was used to quantify AAR, whereas MI size was detected by delayed-enhancement imaging. MSI was defined as AAR extent minus MI size divided by AAR extent. Adverse LV remodeling was defined as an increase in LV end-systolic volume of >or=15%. The degree of ST-segment resolution 1 h after reperfusion was also calculated.


RESULTS
AAR extent was consistently larger than MI size (32+/-15% of LV vs. 18+/-13% of LV, p<0.0001), yielding an MSI of 0.46+/-0.24. MI size was closely related to AAR extent (r=0.81, p<0.0001). After correction for the main baseline characteristics by multivariate analyses, MSI was a major and independent determinant of adverse LV remodeling (odds ratio: 0.64; 95% confidence interval: 0.49 to 0.84, p=0.001) and was independently associated with early ST-segment resolution (B coefficient=0.61, p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with reperfused ST-segment elevation MI, CMR-derived MSI is independently associated with adverse LV remodeling and early ST-segment resolution, opening new perspectives on its use in studies testing novel reperfusion strategies.
MRI Unit, G. Monasterio Foundation/CNR-Regione Toscana, Pisa, Italy. pgmasci@tiscali.it
Pier Giorgio
PG
Masci
Javier
J
Ganame
Elisabetta
E
Strata
Walter
W
Desmet
Giovanni Donato
GD
Aquaro
Steven
S
Dymarkowski
Valentina
V
Valenti
Stefan
S
Janssens
Massimo
M
Lombardi
Frans
F
Van de Werf
Antonio
A
L'Abbate
Jan
J
Bogaert
D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation; D001530:Belgium; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling