Evaluation of myocardial perfusion and deformation in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with primary angioplasty and stent placement

PURPOSETo prospectively compare the usefulness of myocardial perfusion and deformation imaging for the prediction of functional recovery and left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODSWe prospectively examined 36 patients with reperfused STEMI, 12±9 h after primary angioplasty and stent placement. LV function was reevaluated at 4–6 months of follow-up, to assess relative improvement of LV-ejection fraction (ΔEF%) and increase in end-diastolic volume (ΔEDV). RESULTSDuring the follow-up period, 19 of 36 patients showed LV function improvement (ΔEF%≥10%), whereas 10 patients had LV remodeling (ΔEDV≥20%). Peak negative strain ( peak), peak negative strain rate (SRpeak), and myocardial blood flow (A×β) correlated with ΔEF% (r=−0.55, −0.57, and 0.46, respectively, P