Early resolution of ST-segment elevation after reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction: Its relation to echocardiography-determined left ventricular global and regional function and deformation

- Relationships between ST-segment resolution and 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography measured left ventricular deformation were investigated.
- ST-segment resolution correlated with global and regional left ventricular deformation assessed by 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography.
- Regional longitudinal strain and global longitudinal strain were the strongest correlates of ST-segment resolution in sub-acute phase of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
- A cutoff value of 78% for ST-segment resolution differentiated normal from abnormal wall motion score index in sub-acute phase of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

AimsTo evaluate the relationships between ST-segment resolution (STR) and echocardiography-determined left ventricular (LV) global and regional function and deformation in the sub-acute phase of STEMI.Methods and ResultsSTR, defined as either complete (≥ 70%) or incomplete (< 70%), was evaluated 60 minutes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of 84 STEMI patients. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography and 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) were performed at 3-7 days after reperfusion. LV deformation [including the infarction-related regional longitudinal (RLS), circumferential (RCS), and radial (RRS) strains, and global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS), and radial (GRS) strains] was measured by 2D STE. LV segmental function was assessed by wall motion score index (WMSI). Patients in incomplete vs. complete STR groups had higher WMSI (p < 0.001); decreased peak amplitude of RLS (p < 0.001), RCS (p = 0.008), RRS (p = 0.002); and decreased peak amplitude of GLS (p < 0.001), GCS (p < 0.001), GRS (p = 0.003). RLS (r = 0.27, p = 0.015) and GLS (r = 0.33, p = 0.003) were best correlates of STR at the regional and global level, respectively.ConclusionsSTR correlated with global and regional LV function and deformation in patients with sub-acute phase of STEMI after PCI. RLS and GLS were the strongest correlates of STR at the regional and global levels, respectively.