Repeated echocardiography after first ever ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention – is it necessary?

AIM: Changes in left ventricular (LV) function using echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging were assessed in a contemporary ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) population to assess whether repeated imaging is necessary. METHODS: In a prospective study patients with first STEMI were treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and examined with 2D-echocardiography and CMR at baseline (<72 h) and at a three-month follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 138 patients were included (60±11 years). Using 2D-echocardiography at baseline preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (>50%) was found in 48 patients (35%), mild/moderate systolic dysfunction (35-50%) in 76 patients (55%) and severe dysfunction (<35%) in 14 patients (10%). Improvement in systolic function group was seen in 58 patients (64%) and 11 patients (79%) with severe systolic dysfunction at baseline were re-classified as having preserved or mild/moderate systolic dysfunction at follow-up. Irrespective of baseline LVEF, deterioration in systolic function group was noted in 14 patients (11%), but no patients declined from preserved to severe systolic dysfunction. The recovered myocardium measured with the myocardial salvage index by CMR was significantly lower with declining LVEF at baseline. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with severely depressed LVEF immediately after STEMI significantly improved systolic function after three months. This study emphasises the importance of a repeated LV function assessment at follow-up in patients with mild/moderate or severe systolic dysfunction after STEMI, but re-assessment may not be needed in patients with preserved LVEF at baseline.