Type 2 Myocardial Infarction: Modern Diagnostic Techniques and Treatment

Highlights Patients with type 2 myocardial infarction have a more favorable course of the disease in the long-term postinfarction period compared with patients with type 1 myocardial infarction. We have determined the differences in clinical and anamnestic characteristics of patients with type 1 and type 2 MI. Abstract Aim. To determine the prevalence of patients with type 2 myocardial infarction (MI) and their features in clinical practice. Methods . The prospective study involved 204 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The inclusion criteria were as follows: diagnosed ACS at admission followed by a confirmed MI during the inpatient period according to the Fourth Universal definition of MI. The following parameters were analyzed: anthropometric parameters, clinical and anamnestic characteristics, results of laboratory tests, biochemical markers of myocardial necrosis, results of instrumental diagnostics and coronary angiography. A follow-up telephone survey was carried out a year after ACS, noting the following endpoints: repeated coronary events, death, repeated hospitalizations, adherence to medical recommendations, medication taken by the patient. Results. Type 2 MI was diagnosed in 22 (10.8%) patients. The results of coronary angiography revealed either the absence of coronary artery (CA) stenosis or the presence of stenosis of less than 50% without indications of thrombosis in 16 (72.7%) of those patients. Chronic total occlusion of a non-infarct-related artery was found in 6 (27.3%) patients. Patients with type 2 MI were comparable in age with patients with type 1 MI. The group of patients with type 2 MI included more women (p = 0.029), fewer smokers (p = 0.037) and more cases of atrial fibrillation (AF) (p = 0.003) compared to patients with type 1 MI. The factors that were associated with type 2 MI were as follows: sinus tachycardia in 3 (13.6%) patients, paroxysmal atrial flutter or AF with ventricular tachysystole in 4 patients (18.2%). Conclusion . Patients with type 1 MI presented with a less favorable course of the disease: we noted higher number of recurrent MI and deaths one year after the index event compared with patients with type 2 MI. The group of patients with type 2 MI consisted mostly of women, fewer smokers and patients with dyslipidemia, as well as a more frequent indication of AF compared with patients with type 1 MI.