BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Slow coronary flow (SCF) is characterized by delayed contrast dye opacification without significant stenosis of epicardial coronary arteries. However, the pathophysiology and clinical implications of SCF are not fully understood. Some reports have suggested that SCF might be caused by atherosclerosis in the coronary artery microvasculature. Measuring carotid intima-med...

conclusions: patent coronaries of ua/nstemi patients have a trend to higher tfcs compared to normal values. presence of significant coronary lesions in these patients significantly increases tfc. objectives: the present study is aimed to measure the tfc in the coronary arteries of ua/nstemi patients to find abnormalities in diseased or patent vessels and compare with the normal values. patients...

Introduction: The research aimed to compare the characteristics and outcomes of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) patients slow flow (CSF) vs. normal (no CSF) in a 5-year follow-up. Material methods: Between 2010–2015 were identified 111 as having final MINOCA diagnosis available calculated corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC). CSF was defined cTFC greater than ...

BACKGROUND Although 90-minute TIMI flow grades (TFGs), corrected TIMI frame counts (CTFCs), and TIMI myocardial perfusion grades (TMPGs) have been associated with 30-day outcomes, we hypothesized that these indices would be related to long-term outcomes after thrombolytic administration. METHODS AND RESULTS As a substudy of the TIMI 10B trial (tissue plasminogen activator versus tenecteplase)...

OBJECTIVE The present study was designed to determine the effects of tirofiban (Tiro) infusion on angiographic measures, ST-segment resolution, and clinical outcomes in patients with STEMI undergoing PCI. Glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitors are beneficial in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), while the most effectiv...

BACKGROUND In patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may cause thrombus dislodgment followed by reduced flow and impaired microcirculatory function. We prospectively compared conventional PCI to a strategy of additional pretreatment using the X-sizer thrombectomy system. METHODS AND RESULTS Sixty-six patients (51 [77%] men; 54.9+/-9.9 years) with...

OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels would be associated with a greater severity of angiographic disease and a greater extent of myocardium at risk. BACKGROUND Elevations of BNP have been associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes in patients with unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI). METHODS Of th...

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is to evaluate the predictive value of the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). BACKGROUND Despite adequate epicardial artery reperfusion, a number of patients with STEMI have a poor prognosis because of microvascular dama...

The article published in this edition of the Journal, ‘‘Outcomes of drug-eluting stents compared to bare-metal stents in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction’’ by Brito et al., is based on a registry of primary angioplasty between 2003 and 2007 in a high-volume Portuguese center. The aim of the study was to compare the clinical outcomes of patients presenting with ST-segment elevati...