Predictive value of tissue Doppler imaging for left ventricular ejection fraction, remodelling, and infarct size after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction.

AIMS To investigate in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients the value of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) for an early estimation of the extent of myocardial salvage, left ventricular (LV) remodelling, and residual LV ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS AND RESULTS In 50 STEMI patients hospitalized for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), we investigated whether TDI can predict LVEF, infarct size, and LV remodelling as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 4 months post-MI. TDI was assessed within 24 h after MI with colour-coded TDI. Systolic and diastolic velocities from the six basal myocardial segments derived from three standard apical windows were averaged as a measure of global longitudinal velocity (i.e. Sm-6 and Em-6/Am-6, respectively). Sm-6 was shown to be a significant predictor of LVEF at 4 months. In addition, Sm-6 was a significant predictor of infarct size. No significant correlations were found between Sm-6 and LV remodelling. In addition, Sm-6 appeared to be a valuable clinical tool for identification of patients with LVEF > 40% or LVEF < 40% with acceptable positive predictive values. CONCLUSION Sm-6 is a significant predictor of post-MI LVEF and infarct size as measured by MRI. In contrast, TDI-derived velocities do not predict LV remodelling.