Copyright © 1996 by the European Society of Cardiology.
© 1996 The European Society of Cardiology
Myocardial contrast echocardiography in acute myocardial infarction
Pathophysiological background and clinical applications
Institute of Cardiology, University of Bari Bari
*University of Cagliari Cagliari, Italy
Received 9 March 1995; accepted 31 May 1995.
Correspondence:Sabino lliceto, MD, Institute of Cardiology, University of Caglian, Via S. Giorgio, 12. 09124 Cagliari, Italy
Abstract
Myocardial contrast echocardiography is a technique used in experimental and clinical settings in order to visualize the pattern of intramyocardial perfusion. In the acute phase of myocardial infarction, regional absence of flow during myocardial contrast echocardiography delineates the area at risk of necrosis, while the definitive non-perfused area expresses infarct size. Reopening the infarct-related artery, which may be achieved spontaneously by thrombolysis or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, is not a reliable indicator of intramyocardial reperfusion. If myocardial ischaemia due to coronary occlusion has been sufficiently prolonged and severe, not only myocyte viability, but also microvascular integrity is lost. Myocardial contrast echocardiography, using intracoronary injection of sonicated contrast medium, gives information about microvascular integrity and the effective presence of intramyocardial reflow. Anatomical integrity of microvasculature does not necessarily imply preserved function, and thus the microvessel vasodilating reserve may also be impaired. Myocardial contrast echocardiography has the potential to assess alterations in microvascular function, showing, in the myocardial area with reduced coronary reserve, a relatively reduced increase in echocontrast signal intensity when an intravenous vasodilator agent is administered.
(Eur Heart J 1996; 17: 344–353)
Key Words: Microcirculation • myocardial viability • myocardial contrast echocardiography • myocardial infarction
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  G. Niccoli, F. Burzotta, L. Galiuto, and F. Crea Myocardial no-reflow in humans. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 21, 2009; 54(4): 281 - 292. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G De Luca, H Suryapranata, J P Ottervanger, J C A Hoorntje, A T M Gosselink, J-H Dambrink, M-J de Boer, and A W J v. Hof Postprocedural single-lead ST-segment deviation and long-term mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated by primary angioplasty Heart, January 1, 2008; 94(1): 44 - 47. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Seyfeli, A. Abaci, M. Kula, R. Topsakal, N. K. Eryol, H. Arinc, I. Ozdogru, and A. Ergin Myocardial Blush Grade: To Evaluate Myocardial Viability in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Angiology, November 1, 2007; 58(5): 556 - 560. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 The Task Force on the Management of Acute Myocardi, F. Van de Werf, D. Ardissino, A. Betriu, D. V. Cokkinos, E. Falk, K. A.A. Fox, D. Julian, M. Lengyel, F.-J. Neumann, et al. Management of acute myocardial infarction in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation Eur. Heart J., January 1, 2003; 24(1): 28 - 66. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. C. Wong, D. A. Morrow, S. Murphy, N. Kraimer, R. Pai, D. James, D. H. Robertson, L. A. Demopoulos, P. DiBattiste, C. P. Cannon, et al. Elevations in Troponin T and I Are Associated With Abnormal Tissue Level Perfusion: A TACTICS-TIMI 18 Substudy Circulation, July 9, 2002; 106(2): 202 - 207. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. H. Rezkalla and R. A. Kloner No-Reflow Phenomenon Circulation, February 5, 2002; 105(5): 656 - 662. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Zijlstra CORONARY DISEASE: Acute myocardial infarction: primary angioplasty Heart, June 1, 2001; 85(6): 705 - 709. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F.-J. Neumann Optimization of microvascular reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction Eur. Heart J. Suppl., May 1, 2001; 3(suppl_A): A21 - A25. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. R. Bowers and W. W. O'Neill Beyond TIMI III Flow Circulation, May 23, 2000; 101(20): 2332 - 2334. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F Leclercq, P Messner-Pellenc, Q Descours, J-P Daures, J-L Pasquie, F-X Hager, J-M Davy, and R Grolleau-Raoux Combined assessment of reflow and collateral blood flow by myocardial contrast echocardiography after acute reperfused myocardial infarction Heart, July 1, 1999; 82(1): 62 - 67. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Teiger, J. Garot, E. Aptecar, P. Bosio, J. Woscoboinik, J.M. Pernes, P. Gueret, M. Kern, J.-L. Dubois-Rande, and P. Dupouy Coronary blood flow reserve and wall motion recovery in patients undergoing angioplasty for myocardial infarction Eur. Heart J., February 2, 1999; 20(4): 285 - 292. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. W.J. van `t Hof, A. Liem, H. Suryapranata, J. C.A. Hoorntje, M.-J. de Boer, and F. Zijlstra Angiographic Assessment of Myocardial Reperfusion in Patients Treated With Primary Angioplasty for Acute Myocardial Infarction : Myocardial Blush Grade Circulation, June 16, 1998; 97(23): 2302 - 2306. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|