In 31 patients myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed up to 48 hours after acute myocardial infarction with determination of end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, wall-motion score index, and myocardial perfusion score index (MPSI) at rest and under dobutamine stress at 6 months. Patients were classified into remodeling group (RG) (n = 19) and non-RG (n = 12), and, according to number of segments without opacification, reflow (? segments, n = 15) and no-reflow (>2 segments, n = 16) groups.
Wall-motion score index (1.84 ¡À 0.22 vs 1.64 ¡À 0.3; P = .049), MPSI (1.53 ¡À 0.25 vs 1.26 ¡À 0.17; P = .006), and number of segments without contrast (3.11 ¡À 2.23 vs 1.08 ¡À 1.38; P = .018) were higher in RG than in non-RG. End-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, and wall-motion score index, increased significantly in RG at 6 months and decreased in non-RG. MPSI increased in RG (1.53 ¡À 0.25-1.66 ¡À 0.21; P = .011) and was the only independent predictor of left ventricular remodeling (odds ratio = 1.8; 95 % confidence interval = 1.15-2.82; P = .010). No-reflow group presented 27.8 ¡À 19.9 % of segments with resting functional recovery or contractile reserve, and reflow group presented 69.9 ¡À 31.2 % (P < .001).
MPSI obtained 48 hours after acute myocardial infarction is an independent predictor of left ventricular remodeling. Patients with two or fewer segments without opacification revealed a better prognosis of resting ventricular function and contractile reserve.