Early prediction of ventricular functional recovery after myocardial infarction by longitudinal strain study

BACKGROUNDThere are some suggestions that global myocardial strain (GLS) early after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a predictor of improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The goal of this study was to evaluate LV recovery after STEMI intervention based on GLS values. METHODSThe study population consists of 43 patients with acute STEMI and no history of prior coronary intervention treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention. LVEF and myocardial strain indices were measured 48 hours and two months after STEMI by transthoracic echocardiography and speckle tracking method. More than 5% improvement in LVEF was considered significant. RESULTSGLS values were significantly higher in patients with >5% improvement in LVEF 2 months after the STEMI (GLS=15.76% in patients with >5% improvement vs. 11.54% in the other group, P