Combination of electrocardiographic and angiographic markers of reperfusion in the prediction of infarct size in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing successful primary angioplasty

Background Optimal epicardial recanalization does not guarantee optimal myocardial perfusion. The aim of the current study was to evaluate angiographic and electrocardiographic markers of reperfusion in the prediction of infarct size in patients with STEMI undergoing successful primary angioplasty. Methods Our population is represented by 270 STEMI patients with ST successful primary angioplasty (postprocedural TIMI 3 flow and residual stenosis < 50%) with available corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC), myocardial blush grade (MBG), ST-segment resolution and enzymatic infarct size (peak CK-MB) analyses. Results A significant linear relationship with enzymatic infarct size was observed for all markers of reperfusion, except for ST-segment resolution. These data were confirmed even when analyzed as continuous variables in case of cTFC (r = 0.13, p = 0.035), postprocedural residual cumulative ST-segment elevation (r = 0.41, p < 0.0001) and deviation (r = 0.45, p < 0.0001). At multivariate analysis applied to postprocedural angiographic and electrocardiographic markers of reperfusion, cumulative residual ST-segment deviation, myocardial blush grade, and corrected TIMI frame count were independent predictors of enzymatic infarct size. Conclusions This study showed that, among patients with STEMI treated by primary angioplasty, cTFC, MBG and cumulative residual ST-segment deviation are independent predictors of infarct size. Therefore, angiography and electrocardiography may provide complementary information in the evaluation of myocardial perfusion.