Effects of Spontaneous Recanalization of Left Ventricular Function after Acute Myocardial Infarction

ABSTRACT

We studied the incidence of spontaneous infarct related artery recanalization and it's effect on LV function in 120 patients with acute myocardial infarction by angiography within 1 month after onset of acute MI between Nov. 1983 to Sep. 1988. The total occlusion rate of the infarct related artery in 34 cases catheterized from 1st day to 7th day was 55.8%, that of 33 cases from 8th day to 14th day 51.5%, that of 32 cases from 15th day to 21th day 40.7% and that of 21 cases from 21th day to 30th day was 47.7%. These results suggest that spontaneous recanalization of infarct related artery has mainly occurred within 24 hours after acute MI. LV ejection fraction among those patients who showed spontaneous recanalization(n=59) was not significantly superior to those with persistent occlusion of the infarct related artery. Both anterior and inferior MI patients showed no difference in LV function as regard to whether they showed recanalization or persistent occlusion. Although early spontaneous reperfusion of the infarct related artery is not uncommon in acute MI, LV function was not influnced by the spontaneous recanalization at least until 1 month after MI.