Correlation between delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance and nitrate myocardial Tc-99m tetrofosmin scintigraphy in myocardial infarction: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) has been recently proposed as an alternative tool in identifying myocardial viability and transmural distribution of necrosis in the myocardium. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a case of a 71-year-old man admitted for ischemic-like chest pain in which DE-MRI and post-nitrate 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial scintigraphy equally contributed to the diagnosis of previous lateral myocardial infarction. CONCLUSION: In this patient with coronary artery disease, the absence of uptake of tracer at myocardial scintigraphy appeared to be closely correlated to DE-MRI data. Cardiologists can use SPECT or DE-MRI to obtain similar information about myocardial viability.

Half-dose thrombolysis to begin with, when immediate coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction is not possible.

BACKGROUND: Low-dose lytic drugs are sometimes administered to patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as a bridge to coronary angioplasty (facilitated PTCA). Reports are scarce. The characteristics and outcomes of a recent series of consecutive patients treated in our Center are presented. METHODS: In August 2000 facilitated PTCA with half-dose reteplase was started in our Center in all cases when the cath lab was not immediately (< 30 min) available, or the patient had to be transferred to us. Since August 2000, 153 patients were admitted to our cath lab to undergo facilitated (n = 80) or primary (n = 73) PTCA. The data of all patients were prospectively collected, and were analyzed on an "intention-to-treat" basis. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between facilitated and primary PTCA patients with regard to: gender, diabetes, hypertension, previous PTCA/bypass surgery, heart rate at admission, systolic blood pressure, anterior AMI, number of leads with ST-segment elevation, total ST-segment deviation, collateral flow to the infarct-related artery, and three-vessel disease. In our series, facilitated vs primary PTCA patients had a better risk profile: they were younger (61 +/- 13 vs 66 +/- 11 years, p = 0.016), less frequently had a previous AMI (7 vs 24%, p = 0.01), had a shorter time from pain onset to first emergency room admission (122 +/- 104 vs 168 +/- 162 min, p = 0.045), and a trend to a shorter total time to the cath lab (209 +/- 121 vs 255 +/- 183 min, p = 0.073) despite a similar emergency room-to-cath lab component (89 +/- 50 vs 98 +/- 92 min, median 74 vs 65 min, p = NS). Moreover, they presented with a lower Killip class on admission (1.1 +/- 0.4 vs 1.5 +/- 0.98, p = 0.01), with more patients in Killip class 1 (95 vs 74%, p = 0.001). One vs 8% of patients were in shock. Facilitated vs primary PTCA patients had an initial TIMI 2-3 flow in 42 vs 25% of cases (p = 0.031), a final TIMI 3 flow in 82 vs 71% (p = NS), > or = 50% ST-segment resolution in 73 vs 58% (p = NS), and both of the latter in 62 vs 45% (p = 0.099); distal coronary embolization occurred in 9 vs 14% of cases (p = NS); intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation was used in 5 vs 12% and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in 10% of the whole population. The overall in-hospital mortality was 3.7 vs 9.6% (p = NS), and 2.5 vs 4.5% (p = NS) when patients in shock at admission were not considered. Reinfarction occurred in 2 patients submitted to facilitated PTCA (who had had no immediate PTCA, due to full reperfusion) and in none of the patients submitted to primary PTCA; no patient presented with stroke or major bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-treatment with thrombolysis often provides a patent vessel before PTCA, appears to be safe, and may improve reperfusion after PTCA. In this setting, the additional use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors before PTCA only in non-reperfused patients may be significantly risk- and cost-effective.

Management and outcomes of patients transferred for rescue coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Rescue coronary angioplasty (PTCA), though recommended by the guidelines, is not regularly performed after failed lysis in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and data from large contemporary studies are not available. The outcomes of a recent series of consecutive patients in our Center are presented. METHODS: Between August 2000 and November 2003, 270 patients with AMI < 12 hours were referred to our cath lab for emergency PTCA: 117 (43%) for rescue PTCA after failed lysis, and 153 for primary or facilitated PTCA. The baseline, procedural and outcome data of all patients were prospectively collected, analyzed on an "intention-to-treat" basis and compared. Cineangiographic data were reviewed by three angiographers who were unaware of the clinical data. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between rescue PTCA and primary/facilitated PTCA patients as to: age, female gender, diabetes, hypertension, previous AMI, time from pain onset to the first emergency room admission, heart rate at admission, systolic blood pressure, number of leads with ST-segment elevation, total ST-segment deviation, collateral flow to the infarct-related artery, initial TIMI 2-3 flow, and three-vessel disease. Patients with rescue PTCA, as compared to primary/facilitated PTCA, had a longer time from pain onset to the cath lab (336 +/- 196 vs 229 +/- 155 min, p = 0.0001) and more frequently had an anterior AMI (52 vs 38%, p = 0.027), a higher Killip class (1.5 +/- 0.98 vs 1.26 +/- 0.7, p = 0.02), shock (11 vs 5%, p = 0.073), and intra-aortic balloon pump use (17 vs 8%, p = 0.048); fewer patients were in Killip class 1 (74 vs 85%, p = 0.043). PTCA was performed immediately in 78 vs 95% of patients (p = 0.0001); 8 vs 3 patients had PTCA of the infarct-related artery and 8 vs 1 had bypass surgery later during hospitalization. Patients with rescue PTCA, as compared to primary/facilitated PTCA, had a final TIMI 3 flow in 62 vs 76% of cases (p = 0.017), > or = 70% ST-segment resolution in 36 vs 50% (p = 0.086), and both of the latter in 24 vs 45% (p = 0.006); the overall hospital mortality was 12 vs 6.5%, and 5.8 vs 3.4% when patients in shock on admission were not considered; reinfarction and stroke occurred in 0.9 vs 1.3% and in 2.6 vs 0% of the patients respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Due to referral, rescue PTCA patients were admitted to the cath lab later after the onset of infarction, and had a higher risk profile, as compared to primary/facilitated PTCA patients; both recanalization and reperfusion were less satisfactory, as were the outcomes. Thrombolysis is often ineffective but, as long as it remains a widespread treatment, efforts should be made to improve reperfusion and survival in these patients, possibly by an earlier referral for rescue PTCA.