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Myocardial Viability Detected by Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography—Prognostic Value in Patients after Myocardial Infarction
Author(s) -
Olszowska Maria,
Kostkiewicz Magdalena,
Podolec Piotr,
Rubis Paweł,
Tracz Wiesława
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
echocardiography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1540-8175
pISSN - 0742-2822
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8175.2009.01034.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , myocardial infarction , perfusion , percutaneous coronary intervention
Objective: This study aimed to assess the role of myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) as a predictor of cardiac events and death in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: Eighty‐six patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary angioplasty for AMI. Segmental perfusion was estimated by MCE in real time at mean 5 days after PCI using low MI (0.3) after 0.3–0.5 ml bolus injection of intravenous Optison. MCE was scored semiquantitatively as: (1) normal perfusion (homogenous contrast effect), (2) partial perfusion (patchy myocardial contrast enhancement), (3) lack of perfusion (no visible contrast effect). A contrast score index (CSI) was calculated as the sum of MCE scores in each segment divided by the total number of segments. The patients were followed up for cardiac events and death. Results: A CSI of >1.68 was taken to be a predictor of cardiac events and death. Death occurred only in patients with CSI >1.68. Patients with CSI >1.68 had a significantly (P = 0.03) higher incidence of cardiac death or cardiac events (75%) compared to those with CSI <1.68 (27%). The absence of residual perfusion within the infarct zone was an independent predictor of death and cardiac events (P = 0.02). Conclusions: The absence of residual myocardial viability in the infarct zone supplied by an infarct‐related artery is a powerful predictor of cardiac events in patients after AMI. (Echocardiography 2010;27:430‐434)