Quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion using time-density curve analysis after elective percutaneous coronary intervention

The aim of this study was to assess myocardial blush (MB) using a novel software algorithm that quantifies time-density curves (TDC) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Thirty-two patients referred for elective PCI were enrolled. TDC curves were generated and mean maximal myocardial contrast density (Dmax) was calculated from 5 regions of interest in the PCI territory. Dmax was normalized to contrast injected in the proximal coronary artery (DI). Mean DI significantly increased after PCI in all subjects. Dmax correlated directly with subjective grading of Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) myocardial blush (R=0.47; P