Independent Predictor of Adverse Outcome? To the Editor: The corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC) has evolved into a standard measurement in many angiographic core laboratories. Although the reproducibility of the cTFC has been demonstrated,1,2 its superiority to TIMI flow grading has remained in question. Work done in our core laboratory has not found the cTFC to have predictive value independent...

BACKGROUND Inflammation has been reported to be a major contributing factor to many cardiovascular events. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate plasma soluble adhesion molecules; intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin as possible indicators of endothelial activation or inflammation in patients with slow coronary flow. METHOD...

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to assess the angiographic and clinical benefits of the calcium T-channel blocker, mibefradil, in the coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP). BACKGROUND The CSFP is characterized by delayed vessel opacification on angiography (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction [TIMI]-2 flow) in the absence of obstructive epicardial coronary disease and is often associated...

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of intracoronary epinephrine in reversing refractory no-reflow during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 248 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction who had been treated from September 2009 to November 2010 at the Cardiology Department of Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas H...

BACKGROUND Early restoration of epicardial flow before primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been associated with improved clinical outcomes. METHODS We hypothesized that early administration of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor eptifibatide in the emergency department (ED) would yield superior epicardial flow and myocard...

OBJECTIVES We sought to assess myocardial perfusion and metabolism in patients with peculiar transient asynergy, which consisted of basal normokinesia and apical akinesia of the left ventricle (LV) at the same time. BACKGROUND This asynergy has been widely called "tako-tsubo-like LV dysfunction" in Japan, but little is known about its pathophysiology. METHODS We performed rest tallium-201 (...

OBJECTIVE We assessed the relationship between fibrin clot properties and the no-reflow phenomenon after primary coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS AND RESULTS Epicardial blood flow was assessed by TIMI scale and corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC), and perfusion by TIMI Myocardial Perfusion Grade (TMPG) after PCI during ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Fibrin clot permeabi...

BACKGROUND Although improved epicardial blood flow (as assessed with either TIMI flow grades or TIMI frame count) has been related to reduced mortality after administration of thrombolytic drugs, the relationship of myocardial perfusion (as assessed on the coronary arteriogram) to mortality has not been examined. METHODS AND RESULTS A new, simple angiographic method, the TIMI myocardial perfu...