This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 107/16/2115    most recent 01.CIR.0000065221.06430.EDv1 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 HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Henriques, J. P.S. Articles by Suryapranata, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Henriques, J. P.S. Articles by Suryapranata, H. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Heart Attack Related Collections Coronary imaging: angiography/ultrasound/Doppler/CC

(Circulation. 2003;107:2115.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Clinical Investigation and Reports

Angiographic Assessment of Reperfusion in Acute Myocardial Infarction by Myocardial Blush Grade

Jose P.S. Henriques, MD; Felix Zijlstra, MD, PhD; Arnoud W.J. van ‘t Hof, MD, PhD; Menko-Jan de Boer, MD, PhD; Jan-Henk E. Dambrink, MD, PhD; Marcel Gosselink, MD, PhD; Jan C.A. Hoorntje, MD, PhD; Harry Suryapranata, MD, PhD

From Isala Klinieken, Hospital De Weezenlanden, Department of Cardiology, Zwolle, the Netherlands.

Correspondence to Dr F. Zijlstra, Isala Klinieken, Hospital De Weezenlanden, Department of Cardiology, Groot Wezenland 20, 8011 JW Zwolle, The Netherlands. E-mail f.zijlstra{at}diagram-zwolle.nl

	Abstract

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Background— Angiographic successful reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction has been defined as TIMI 3 flow. However, TIMI 3 flow does not always result in effective myocardial reperfusion. Myocardial blush grade (MBG) is an angiographic measure of myocardial perfusion. We hypothesized that optimal angiographic reperfusion is defined by TIMI 3 flow and MBG 2 or 3.

Methods and Results— In 924 consecutive patients with TIMI 3 flow after angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction, we prospectively studied the value of MBG. End points were death, MACE, enzymatic infarct size, and residual left ventricular ejection fraction. Follow-up was 16±11 months. Of the 924 patients, 101 (11%) patients had MBG 0 or 1. Mortality was significantly higher in patients with MBG 0 or 1 compared with patients with MBG 2 or 3 (relative risk, 4.7; 95% CI, 2.3 to 9.5; P<0.001). The combined incidence of MACE was higher in patients with MBG 0 or 1 compared with patients with MBG 2 or 3 (relative risk, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.8; P=0.009). Enzymatic infarct size was larger (1437±2388 versus 809±1672, P=0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction was lower (37.7±10.6 versus 43.8±11.1, P<0.001) in patients with MBG 0 or 1 compared with patients with MBG 2 or 3.

Conclusions— MBG is a strong angiographic predictor of mortality in patients with TIMI 3 flow after primary angioplasty. Enzymatic infarct size is larger and residual left ventricular ejection fraction is lower in patients with MBG 0 or 1 compared with MBG 2 or 3. Angiographic definition of successful reperfusion should include both TIMI 3 flow as well as MBG 2 or 3.

Key Words: angioplasty • myocardial infarction • reperfusion

	Introduction

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Reperfusion treatment in acute myocardial infarction aims at early and sustained reperfusion of the myocardium at risk.¹ Nowadays, reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction is considered to be angiographically successful when TIMI 3 flow is achieved in the infarct-related coronary artery.^2,3 However, even when TIMI 3 flow is achieved, some patients have less optimal reperfusion at the myocardial tissue level, and several mechanisms have been suggested to be involved as, among others, no reflow⁴ and distal embolization.^5–7 Therefore, other predictors related to epicardial reperfusion as well as myocardial reperfusion are necessary. We previously described the myocardial blush grade (MBG) after primary angioplasty as an important predictor of infarct size and survival.⁸ After this study, several other authors confirmed these findings with a similar method in patients treated with primary coronary angioplasty⁹ and with a somewhat different method for patients after thrombolytic treatment and confirmed that myocardial blush is an independent predictor for outcome in acute myocardial infarction patients treated with reperfusion therapy.^10–13 However, all of these studies were retrospective analyses on coronary angiographic data gathered for other purposes. Therefore, we now prospectively studied the value of this simple and available parameter in a large cohort of primary angioplasty patients with a mean follow-up of 16±11 months. The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis that a definition of successful reperfusion should include TIMI 3 flow in the infarct-related coronary artery but also MBG 2 or 3 in the myocardial territory of the infarct-related coronary artery.

	Methods

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Patients
We performed a single-center follow-up study. The protocol was reviewed and approved by our Institutional Review Board. From September 1998 to September 2001, 924 consecutive patients with TIMI 3 flow and a residual lumen diameter <50% after primary coronary angioplasty were enrolled in this analysis. All patients received intravenous aspirin, heparin, and nitroglycerine. The use of other medication, including IIb-IIIa receptor antagonists, was at the discretion of the attending physician.

Clinical and Angiographic Variables
Baseline clinical characteristics and outcome data were collected in a case record form. TIMI flow and MBG was assessed visually on the angiogram and made immediately after the primary coronary angioplasty procedure by the performing cardiologist, and all data were entered prospectively into a database. MBG has been defined previously⁸ as follows: 0, no myocardial blush or contrast density; 1, minimal myocardial blush or contrast density; 2, moderate myocardial blush or contrast density but less than that obtained during angiography of a contralateral or ipsilateral non–infarct-related coronary artery; and 3, normal myocardial blush or contrast density, comparable with that obtained during angiography of a contralateral or ipsilateral non–infarct-related coronary artery. When myocardial blush persisted ("staining"), this phenomenon suggested leakage of contrast medium into the extravascular space and was graded 0. No digital techniques were used. To allow blush grading, the length of the angiographic run needs to be adequate. To ensure this, our final angiographic run is long enough to see the venous phase of the contrast passage. These angiographic runs were made in identical views according to the infarct-related artery and thus assuring assessment in equal conditions. When the left coronary artery was involved, the final angiogram was made in the left lateral view. When the right coronary artery was involved, the final angiogram was made in the right oblique view. Reproducibility of the visual assessment of the MBG has been studied in our first report,⁸ and we found a good reproducibility and intraobserver and interobserver variabilities of 90% and 97%, respectively. For this study, a sample of 120 coronary angiograms was reviewed by an independent observer without access to clinical data or case record forms and patients were classified as MBG 0/1 or 2/3. In this sample, 17 patients had been classified by the operator in the category 0/1. The independent observer graded 3 additional patients as grade 0/1, and agreement existed in 117 of the 120 of patients (97%). Survival was not different between patients with MBG 2 versus 3 (Figure 1), and, therefore, we studied patients with MBG 2 or 3 as one group and compared them with patients with MBG 0 or 1, as other authors have done.^{11,12,14–16} Other angiographic variables were infarct-related artery, TIMI flow before angioplasty, and multivessel coronary artery disease.

View larger version (16K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Mortality in TIMI 3 flow patients according to the MBG.

End Points
Primary end points were mortality and the combined incidence of death, nonfatal recurrent myocardial infarction, and new revascularization (MACE) at follow-up of at least 6 months. Secondary end points were infarct size as measured by enzymatic infarct size and left ventricular ejection fraction before discharge. Enzymatic infarct size was estimated by measurement of serial lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Cumulative enzyme release from 5 to 6 serial measurements up to 48 hours after symptom onset (LDHQ48) was calculated, as previously described.¹⁴ Patients were scheduled for predischarge left ventricular ejection fraction measurement. The multiple-gated equilibrium method was used after in vivo labeling of red cells with 99 m-Tc-pertechnetate. A gamma camera (General Electric) with a low-energy, all-purpose, parallel-hole collimator was used. The global ejection fraction was calculated automatically by a computer (Star View, General Electric) with the PAGE program, as described before in detail.¹⁷

Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 10.0. Differences between group means were tested by 2-tailed Student’s t test. A ² statistic was calculated to test differences between proportions, with calculation of relative risks (RRs) and exact 95% CIs. The Fisher exact test was used when the expected value of cells was <5. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. Cumulative survival curves for the risk of mortality were constructed according to the Kaplan-Meier method,¹⁸ and differences between the curves were tested for significance by the log-rank statistic.¹⁹ Cox proportional-hazards regression models²⁰ were used to estimate hazard ratios of angiographic variables.

	Results

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Follow-up was at least 6 months in all patients, and mean follow-up was 16±11 (range, 6 to 48) months. No patient was lost to follow-up. During the entire period, 38 patients died (mortality, 4.1%). Residual left ventricular ejection fraction was measured in 871 (94%) patients, and enzymatic infarct size was measured in 669 (80%) patients. Out of the 924 patients with TIMI 3 flow after angioplasty, 101 (11%) patients had MBG 0 or 1 and 823 (89%) patients had MBG 2 or 3. These 2 patient groups with TIMI 3 flow had somewhat different baseline variables. The patients with MBG 0 or 1 were older (63±12 years versus 60±12 years, P<0.05), more often had anterior myocardial infarction (68% versus 47%, P<0.001), and more often were diabetic (17% versus 10%, P=0.04) but less often were smokers (37% versus 51%, P=0.005). The percentage of referred patients (49% versus 41%, P=0.12) and ischemic time (260±192 versus 234±140 minutes, P=0.12) was not significantly different between both groups (see Table 1). Patients with MBG 0 or 1 grade had different angiographic variables compared with patients with MBG 2 or 3. Patients with reduced blush grade had more left anterior descending artery–related myocardial infarction (64% versus 47%, P<0.001), more often suffered from multivessel coronary artery disease (68% versus 48%, P<0.001), and less often had TIMI 3 flow before angioplasty (4% versus 18%, P<0.00, see Table 2). Mortality rate at follow-up was 13% in the patients with MBG 0 or 1 and 3% in the patients with MBG 2 or 3 (RR, 4.7; 95% CI, 2.3 to 9.5; P<0.001) (see Figure 2). Kaplan-Meier curves for overall survival are shown in Figure 3. The combined incidence of death and nonfatal recurrent myocardial infarction was 33% in the group with MBG 0 or 1 and 21% in the patient group with MBG 2 or 3 (RR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.8; P=0.009) (Figure 4). Evidence of more severe myocardial damage in the group with reduced blush was demonstrated by a significantly lower residual left ventricular ejection fraction (37.7±10.6 versus 43.8±11.1, P<0.001) and larger enzymatic infarct size (LDHQ48: 1437±2388 versus 809±1672, P=0.001) compared with the patients with MBG 2 or 3 (see Table 3). Multivariate analysis was performed to study the predictive value of angiographic variables as risk factors of death at follow-up. This analysis shows that MBG was the most important angiographic predictor of long-term mortality (see Table 4).

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 1. Clinical Variables of Patients With TIMI 3 Flow After Angioplasty for Acute Myocardial Infarction According to the MBG

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 2. Angiographic Variables of Patients With TIMI 3 Flow After Angioplasty for Acute Myocardial Infarction According to the MBG

View larger version (21K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. Mortality in TIMI 3 flow patients according to the MBG.

View larger version (12K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 3. Survival in TIMI 3 flow patients according to the MBG.

View larger version (31K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 4. MACE in TIMI 3 flow patients according to the MBG.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 3. Infarct Size of Patients With TIMI 3 Flow After Angioplasty for Acute Myocardial Infarction According to the MBG

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 4. Independent Angiographic Variables as Risk Factors of Long-Term Mortality in Patients With TIMI 3 Flow After Angioplasty

	Discussion

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
The main finding of our study is that MBG after primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction is an important prognostic feature and should be added to the commonly used TIMI flow grading to define successful angiographic reperfusion with primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

Patients with TIMI 3 flow after primary angioplasty have successful angioplasty, according to the current definition.^2,3 However, it has been described that "some TIMI 3 flow patients are more equal than other TIMI 3 flow patients" (reference 2, p 670) and that myocardial reperfusion is not always achieved in patients with successful angioplasty.^1,4–6 Using the MBG, we were able to detect a group of patients with reduced myocardial reperfusion despite normal flow in the epicardial infarct-related coronary artery. This patient group consisted of 11% of the total study population. Patients with MBG 0 or 1 had a higher mortality compared with patients with MBG 2 or 3 (13% versus 3%; RR, 4.7; 95% CI, 2.3 to 9.5; P<0.001). Also, the combined incidence of death, recurrent myocardial infarction, or revascularization was higher in the group with MBG 0 or 1 (33% versus 21%; RR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.8; P=0.009)

The patients with MBG 0 or 1 not only had a higher mortality but also had a larger infarct size. Infarct size was measured by the cumulative enzyme release for 48 hours and residual ejection fraction. Both of these 2 measurements revealed larger infarct size in patients with MBG 0 or 1 (see Table 3). This clearly relates MBG 0 or 1 grade to poor myocardial reperfusion at tissue level, therefore resulting in more enzyme release during 48 hours and in a lower residual left ventricular ejection fraction. Some of the baseline characteristics are different between both groups. These potential confounders merit additional scrutiny. For example, the patients with MBG 0 or 1 are significantly older, more often have anterior myocardial infarction, and more often have diabetes compared with patients with MBG 2 or 3.

Smoking has been associated with more extensive thrombus formation.^21,22 Distal plugging of thrombus has been suggested to play a role in no reflow. Therefore, the group with MBG 0 or 1 (or worse myocardial reperfusion) might consist of a higher percentage of smokers. However, there were fewer smokers in the patient group with MBG 0 or 1. This may be related to the smokers’ paradox.^23–25 In our study, patients with MBG 0 or 1 grade were significantly older, confirming that age may be more important in myocardial reperfusion. The no reflow phenomenon, one of the possible factors involved in poor myocardial reperfusion, is associated with a longer ischemic time,²⁶ but in our study there was no significant difference in mean ischemic time between patients with MBG 0 or 1 compared with patients with MBG 2 or 3. Some angiographic variables are important predictors of infarct size, and long-term survival and several angiographic variables were differently distributed in both groups. Anterior myocardial infarction is related to larger myocardial infarct size and higher long-term mortality compared with non–anterior-related myocardial infarctions,^27,28 and in the patients with MBG 0 or 1, more patients had left anterior-related myocardial infarction. Patients with TIMI 3 flow on acute angiography before primary angioplasty are known to have smaller infarct size and low long-term mortality.^29,30 Patients with MBG 0 or 1 had less TIMI 3 flow before angioplasty.

Patients with single-vessel disease have lower mortality compared with patients with multivessel disease,^31,32 and in our study the percentage of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease was higher in the group with MBG 0 or 1. In our study, these 3 angiographic variables were unequally distributed in the groups with different MBG. Therefore, we performed multivariate analysis to study whether these angiographic variables were independent risk factors of mortality during follow-up. This analysis revealed that most of these variables were independent predictors of long-term mortality. The MBG was the strongest predictor for mortality, with a RR of 2.9 (95% CI, 1.4 to 5.8; P=0.003), even when corrected for multivessel coronary artery disease, infarct-related artery, and TIMI 3 flow before angioplasty (see Table 4).

In our study, the incidence of patients with MBG 0 or 1 was 11%. Stone et al⁹ studied the value of the MBG according to the same definition in a cohort of 173 patients and found that 30.2% had MBG 0 or 1. However, in these 173 patients, only 94.2% of the patients had TIMI 3 after PCI, and 39% of the PCI procedures were performed after failed thrombolysis as a rescue PCI procedure. We studied the value of MBG in 924 patients, all with TIMI 3 after PCI, and all patients underwent primary PCI; no patients in our study underwent PCI after failed thrombolysis. Subsequently, at least in part, the ischemic time in the study by Stone et al population was importantly longer. Mean ischemic time in the report by Stone et al was 314±184 minutes (MBG 3) and 359±216 minutes (MBG 0 to 2), and ischemic time in our study was 260±192 minutes (MBG 2 or 3) and 234±140 minutes (MBG 0 or 1). Furthermore, in the study by Stone et al, additional PCI procedures (atherectomy and laser) were performed in 11.6% of the patients, indicating that PCI procedure with balloon and stenting were not sufficient to achieve optimal angiographic result. Our study included patients treated with only balloon angioplasty or intracoronary stenting. These above-mentioned differences in study populations account for the higher incidence of patients with MBG 0 or 1 in Stone’s study, because his study population had a higher risk of not achieving reperfusion at the myocardial level.

The Myocardial Blush Grade
The arrival of radiographic contrast agents in the distal microvasculature of the downstream myocardium after passage of the epicardial coronary artery has been previously studied with semiquantitative techniques based on densitometry.^33,34 These semiquantitative methods have also been applied in the setting of acute myocardial infarction³⁵ but are cumbersome, time consuming, and difficult to apply in routine clinical practice. However, qualitative visual assessment is feasible and applicable in routine clinical practice, because reproducibility and the variability of this method allow its use in clinical practice until more sophisticated techniques have been proven to be superior. Additional research will be needed to study whether the use of semiquantitative techniques enhances the predictive value of angiographic data. In our definition, rapidity of the appearance of the myocardial blush plays no role as it does in the TIMI perfusion grade definition. Therefore, we did not study its value in this prospective study. However, both methods clearly have the possibility to distinguish a low-risk group (MBG 2 or 3).

Conclusion
In patients with TIMI 3 flow after angioplasty, 11% have a MBG 0 or 1. These patients have larger enzymatic infarct size, lower residual ejection fraction, higher mortality, and higher incidence of MACE. This angiographic feature has important clinical value, because MBG 0 or 1 identifies patients with a >4-fold higher risk of death during long-term follow-up.

Received November 1, 2002; revision received February 7, 2003; accepted February 7, 2003.

	References

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
1. Mukherjee D, Moliterno DJ. Achieving tissue-level perfusion in the setting of acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol. 2000; 85: 39C–46C.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

2. Hamada S, Nishiue T, Nakamura S, et al. TIMI frame count immediately after primary coronary angioplasty as a predictor of functional recovery in patients with TIMI 3 reperfused acute myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2001; 38: 666–671.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

3. Smith SC Jr, Dove JT, Jacobs AK, et al. ACC/AHA guidelines for percutaneous coronary intervention (revision of the 1993 PTCA guidelines): executive summary. A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association task force on practice guidelines endorsed by the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions. Circulation. 2001; 103: 3019–3041.[Free Full Text]

4. Ito H, Maruyama A, Iwakura K, et al. Clinical implications of the "no reflow" phenomenon: a predictor of complications and left ventricular remodelling in reperfused anterior wall myocardial infarction. Circulation. 1996; 93: 223–228.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

5. Topol EJ, Yadav JS. Recognition of the importance of embolization in atherosclerotic vascular disease. Circulation. 2000; 101: 570–580.[Free Full Text]

6. Yamada DM, Topol EJ. Importance of microembolization and inflammation in atherosclerotic heart disease. Am Heart J. 2000; 140: S90–S102.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

7. Henriques JPS, Zijlstra F, Ottervanger JP, et al. Incidence and clinical significance of distal embolization during primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. Eur Heart J. 2002; 23: 1112–1117.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

8. van‘t Hof AWJ, Liem A, Suryapranata H, et al. Angiographic assessment of myocardial reperfusion in patients treated with primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction: myocardial blush grade: Zwolle Myocardial Infarction Study Group. Circulation. 1998; 97: 2302–2306.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

9. Stone GW, Peterson MA, Lansky AJ, et al. Impact of normalized myocardial perfusion after successful angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002; 39: 591–597.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

10. Gibson CM, Cannon CP, Murphy SA, et al. Relationship of TIMI myocardial perfusion grade to mortality after administration of thrombolytic drugs. Circulation. 2000; 101: 125–130.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

11. Angeja BG, Gunda M, Murphy SA, et al. TIMI myocardial perfusion grade and ST segment resolution: association with infarct size as assessed by single photon emission computed tomography imaging. Circulation. 2002; 105: 282–285.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

12. Gibson CM, Cannon CP, Murphy SA, et al. Relationship of the TIMI myocardial perfusion grades, flow grades, frame count, and percutaneous coronary intervention to long-term outcomes after thrombolytic administration in acute myocardial infarction. Circulation. 2002; 105: 1909–1913.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

13. Zijlstra F, van‘t Hof AWJ, Suryapranata H, et al. Angiographic determination of myocardial reperfusion by primary coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. Neth Heart J. 2002; 10: 111–117.

14. Wong GC, Morrow DA, Murphy S, et al. Elevations in troponin T and I are associated with abnormal tissue level perfusion: a TACTICS-TIMI 18 substudy. Circulation. 2002; 106: 202–207.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

15. Baran KW, Nguyen M, McKendall GR, et al. Double-blind, randomized trial of an anti-CD18 antibody in conjunction with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for acute myocardial infarction: limitation of myocardial infarction following thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction (LIMIT AMI) study. Circulation. 2001; 104: 2778–2783.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

16. Barron HV, Cannon CP, Murphy SA, et al. Association between white blood cell count, epicardial blood flow, myocardial perfusion, and clinical outcomes in the setting of acute myocardial infarction: a thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 10 substudy. Circulation. 2000; 102: 2329–2334.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

17. de Boer MJ, Suryapranata H, Hoorntje JCA, et al. Limitation of infarct size and preservation of left ventricular function after primary coronary angioplasty compared with intravenous streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction. Circulation. 1994; 90: 753–761.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

18. Kaplan EL, Meier P. Nonparametric estimation from incomplete observations. J Am Stat Assoc. 1958; 53: 457–481.[CrossRef]

19. Savage IR. Contributions to the theory of rank order statistics: the two-sample case. Ann Math Stat. 1956; 27: 590–615.[CrossRef]

20. Cox DR. Regression models and life-tables. J R Stat Soc [B]. 1972; 34: 187–202.

21. Newby DE, Wright RA, Labinjoh C, et al. Endothelial dysfunction, impaired endogenous fibrinolysis, and cigarette smoking: a mechanism for arterial thrombosis and myocardial infarction. Circulation. 1999; 99: 1411–1415.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

22. Hung J, Lam JY, Lacoste L, et al. Cigarette smoking acutely increases platelet thrombus formation in patients with coronary artery disease taking aspirin. Circulation. 1995; 92: 2432–2436.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

23. Cohen DJ, Doucet M, Cutlip DE, et al. Impact of smoking on clinical and angiographic restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention: another smoker’s paradox? Circulation. 2001; 104: 773–778.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

24. Andrikopoulos GK, Richter DJ, Dilaveris PE, et al. In-hospital mortality of habitual cigarette smokers after acute myocardial infarction; the "smoker’s paradox" in a countrywide study. Eur Heart J. 2001; 22: 776–784.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

25. Gourlay SG, Rundle AC, Barron HV. Smoking and mortality following acute myocardial infarction: results from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction 2 (NRMI 2). Nicotine Tob Res. 2002; 4: 101–107.

26. Kondo M, Nakano A, Saito D, et al. Assessment of "microvascular no-reflow phenomenon" using technetium-99 m macroaggregated albumin scintigraphy in patients with acute myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1998; 32: 898–903.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

27. Brener SJ, Ellis SG, Sapp SK, et al. Predictors of death and reinfarction at 30 days after primary angioplasty: the GUSTO IIb and RAPPORT trials. Am Heart J. 2000; 139: 476–481.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

28. Ottervanger JP, Van’t Hof AWJ, Reiffers S, et al. Long-term recovery of left ventricular function after primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. Eur Heart J. 2001; 22: 785–790.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

29. Brodie BR, Stuckey TD, Hansen C, et al. Benefit of coronary reperfusion before intervention on outcomes after primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol. 2000; 85: 13–18.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

30. Stone GW, Cox D, Garcia E, et al. Normal flow (TIMI-3) before mechanical reperfusion therapy is an independent determinant of survival in acute myocardial infarction: analysis from the primary angioplasty in myocardial infarction trials. Circulation. 2001; 104: 636–641.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

31. Kahn JK, Rutherford BD, McConahay DR, et al. Results of primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1990; 16: 1089–1096.[Abstract]

32. Stone GW, Rutherford BD, McConahay DR, et al. Direct coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction: outcome in patients with single vessel disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1990; 15: 534–543.[Abstract]

33. Vogel RA. The radiographic assessment of coronary blood flow parameters. Circulation. 1985; 72: 460–465.[Free Full Text]

34. Hodgson JM, LeGrand V, Bates ER, et al. Validation in dogs of a rapid digital angiographic technique to measure relative coronary blood flow during routine cardiac catheterization. Am J Cardiol. 1985; 55: 188–193.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

35. Suryapranata H, Zijlstra F, MacLeod DC, et al. Predictive value of reactive hyperemic response on reperfusion on recovery of regional myocardial function after coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction. Circulation. 1994; 89: 1109–1117.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Vogelzang, P. J. Vlaar, T. Svilaas, D. Amo, M. W.N. Nijsten, and F. Zijlstra Computer-assisted myocardial blush quantification after percutaneous coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction: a substudy from the TAPAS trial Eur. Heart J., March 1, 2009; 30(5): 594 - 599. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Napodano, A. Ramondo, G. Tarantini, D. Peluso, S. Compagno, C. Fraccaro, A. C. Frigo, R. Razzolini, and S. Iliceto Predictors and time-related impact of distal embolization during primary angioplasty Eur. Heart J., February 1, 2009; 30(3): 305 - 313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. O. Spiel, J. C. Gilbert, and B. Jilma Von Willebrand Factor in Cardiovascular Disease: Focus on Acute Coronary Syndromes Circulation, March 18, 2008; 117(11): 1449 - 1459. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Seyfeli, A. Abaci, M. Kula, R. Topsakal, N. K. Eryol, H. Arinc, I. Ozdogru, and A. Ergin Myocardial Blush Grade: To Evaluate Myocardial Viability in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Angiology, November 1, 2007; 58(5): 556 - 560. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. Silva-Orrego, P. Colombo, R. Bigi, D. Gregori, A. Delgado, P. Salvade, J. Oreglia, P. Orrico, A. de Biase, G. Piccalo, et al. Thrombus Aspiration Before Primary Angioplasty Improves Myocardial Reperfusion in Acute Myocardial Infarction: The DEAR-MI (Dethrombosis to Enhance Acute Reperfusion in Myocardial Infarction) Study J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., October 17, 2006; 48(8): 1552 - 1559. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K Vijayalakshmi, V J Whittaker, B Kunadian, J Graham, R A Wright, J A Hall, A Sutton, and M A de Belder Prospective, randomised, controlled trial to study the effect of intracoronary injection of verapamil and adenosine on coronary blood flow during percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute coronary syndromes Heart, September 1, 2006; 92(9): 1278 - 1284. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Gick, N. Jander, H.-P. Bestehorn, R.-P. Kienzle, M. Ferenc, K. Werner, T. Comberg, K. Peitz, D. Zohlnhofer, V. Bassignana, et al. Randomized Evaluation of the Effects of Filter-Based Distal Protection on Myocardial Perfusion and Infarct Size After Primary Percutaneous Catheter Intervention in Myocardial Infarction With and Without ST-Segment Elevation Circulation, September 6, 2005; 112(10): 1462 - 1469. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Kosuge, K. Kimura, T. Ishikawa, T. Ebina, K. Hibi, N. Toda, and S. Umemura ST-Segment Depression in Lead aVR: A Useful Predictor of Impaired Myocardial Reperfusion in Patients With Inferior Acute Myocardial Infarction Chest, August 1, 2005; 128(2): 780 - 786. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Achrafi DECOPI (DEsobstruction COronaire en Post-Infarctus): a randomized multi-centre trial of occluded artery angioplasty after acute myocardial infarction: DECOPI or NOT DECOPI: more smoke on the horizon Eur. Heart J., August 1, 2005; 26(15): 1566 - 1567. [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Bodi, J. Sanchis, A. Losada, M. P. Lopez-Lereu, D. Garcia, M. Pellicer, F. J. Chorro, and A. Llacer Usefulness of quantitative intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography to analyze microvasculature perfusion in patients with a recent myocardial infarction and an open infarct-related artery: comparison with intracoronary myocardial contrast echocardiography Eur J Echocardiogr, June 1, 2005; 6(3): 164 - 174. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. W. Stone, J. Webb, D. A. Cox, B. R. Brodie, M. Qureshi, A. Kalynych, M. Turco, H. P. Schultheiss, D. Dulas, B. D. Rutherford, et al. Distal Microcirculatory Protection During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Controlled Trial JAMA, March 2, 2005; 293(9): 1063 - 1072. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Prasad, G. W. Stone, T. D. Stuckey, C. O. Costantini, P. J. Zimetbaum, M. McLaughlin, R. Mehran, E. Garcia, J. E. Tcheng, D. A. Cox, et al. Impact of diabetes mellitus on myocardial perfusion after primary angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., February 15, 2005; 45(4): 508 - 514. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Gyongyosi, H. Domanovits, W. Benzer, M. Haugk, B. Heinisch, G. Sodeck, R. Hodl, G. Gaul, G. Bonner, J. Wojta, et al. Use of abciximab prior to primary angioplasty in STEMI results in early recanalization of the infarct-related artery and improved myocardial tissue reperfusion - results of the Austrian multi-centre randomized ReoPro-BRIDGING Study Eur. Heart J., December 1, 2004; 25(23): 2125 - 2133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Voci, F. Pizzuto, and F. Romeo The slippery slope Eur. Heart J., September 1, 2004; 25(17): 1480 - 1482. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Iwakura, H. Ito, S. Kawano, A. Okamura, K. Tanaka, Y. Nishida, Y. Maekawa, and K. Fujii Assessing myocardial perfusion with the transthoracic Doppler technique in patients with reperfused anterior myocardial infarction: comparison with angiographic, enzymatic and electrocardiographic indices Eur. Heart J., September 1, 2004; 25(17): 1526 - 1533. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. O. Costantini, G. W. Stone, R. Mehran, E. Aymong, C. L. Grines, D. A. Cox, T. Stuckey, M. Turco, B. J. Gersh, J. E. Tcheng, et al. Frequency, correlates, and clinical implications of myocardial perfusion after primary angioplasty and stenting, with and without glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition, in acute myocardial infarction J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 21, 2004; 44(2): 305 - 312. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Dangas Interventional therapy for acute myocardial infarction: respect the microvasculature J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., October 15, 2003; 42(8): 1403 - 1405. [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 107/16/2115    most recent 01.CIR.0000065221.06430.EDv1 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 HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Henriques, J. P.S. Articles by Suryapranata, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Henriques, J. P.S. Articles by Suryapranata, H. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Heart Attack Related Collections Coronary imaging: angiography/ultrasound/Doppler/CC