FEATURED SEARCH: myocardial infarction
New biomarkers are answering the urgent need to detect and treat the reperfusion injury that can arise after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Growing evidence suggests that matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), an enzyme that acts in the earliest stages of reperfusion, may be an important candidate. Here, researchers found that levels of this enzyme measured during and even before PCI predicted post-procedure left ventricular function and infarct size.
RESULT: Early measurements of plasma matrix metalloproteinase-2 predict infarct size and ventricular dysfunction in ST-elevation myocardial infarction
Heart | Jan 12, 2012 (Free abstract. Full text $30)
These authors analyzed more than 200 consecutive patients with acute reperfused ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary angioplasty less than 12 hours after symptom onset. T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) was used to calculate the myocardial salvage index. They found CMR assessments of myocardial salvage predicted the long-term clinical outcome in STEMI.
RESULT: Long-term prognostic value of myocardial salvage assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance in acute reperfused myocardial infarction
Heart | Dec 15, 2011 (Free abstract. Full text $30)
After STEMI, microvascular obstruction can be assessed using semiquantitative angiographic "blush" scores. A free computer-calculated algorithm, called Quantitative Blush Evaluator, accurately assessed microvascular obstruction in the report below. This score correlated with infarct size and microvascular dysfunction by CMR, and may be a useful quantitative angiographic technique to assess myocardial reperfusion after STEMI.
RESULT: Quantitative Blush Evaluator accurately quantifies microvascular dysfunction in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: comparison with cardiovascular magnetic resonance
American Heart Journal (PubMed) | Aug 1, 2011 (Free abstract. Full text $31.50)
