This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Data Supplement All Versions of this Article: 104/10/1101    most recent hc3501.096798v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Choi, K. M. Articles by Judd, R. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Choi, K. M. Articles by Judd, R. M. Related Collections CT and MRI Acute myocardial infarction

(Circulation. 2001;104:1101.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.

Clinical Investigation and Reports

Transmural Extent of Acute Myocardial Infarction Predicts Long-Term Improvement in Contractile Function

Kelly M. Choi, MD; Raymond J. Kim, MD; George Gubernikoff, MD; John D. Vargas, BS; Michelle Parker, MS, RN; Robert M. Judd, PhD

From the Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute (K.M.C., R.J.K., J.D.V., M.P., R.M.J.) and Departments of Medicine (K.M.C., R.J.K., G.G., M.P., R.M.J.) and Biomedical Engineering (R.M.J.), Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill.

Correspondence to Robert M. Judd, PhD, Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute, Northwestern University Medical School, 303 East Chicago Ave, Tarry 12-723, Chicago, IL 60611-3008. E-mail rjudd{at}nwu.edu

Background—— Previous animal studies have demonstrated that the transmural extent of acute myocardial infarction defined by contrast-enhanced MRI (ceMRI) relates to early restoration of flow and future improvements in contractile function. We tested the hypothesis that ceMRI would have similar predictive value in humans.

Methods and Results—— Twenty-four patients who presented with their first myocardial infarction and were successfully revascularized underwent cine and ceMRI of their heart within 7 days (scan 1) of the peak MB band of creatine kinase. Cine MRI was repeated 8 to 12 weeks later (scan 2). The transmural extent of infarction on scan 1 and wall thickening on both scans were determined using a 72-segment model. A total of 524 of 1571 segments (33%) were dysfunctional on scan 1. Improvement in segmental contractile function on scan 2 was inversely related to the transmural extent of infarction on scan 1 (P=0.001). Improvement in global contractile function, as assessed by ejection fraction and mean wall thickening score, was not predicted by peak creatine kinase-MB (P=0.66) or by total infarct size, as defined by MRI (P=0.70). The best predictor of global improvement was the extent of dysfunctional myocardium that was not infarcted or had infarction comprising <25% of left ventricular wall thickness (P<0.005 for ejection fraction, P<0.001 for mean wall thickening score).

Conclusion—— In patients with acute myocardial infarction, the transmural extent of infarction defined by ceMRI predicts improvement in contractile function.

Key Words: magnetic resonance imaging • contrast media • myocardial infarction