Effects of late percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of an occluded infarct-related coronary artery on left ventricular function in patients with a recent (

Abstract

The effect of late percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of an occluded infarct-related artery on left ventricular ejection fraction was studied in patients with a recent, first Q-wave myocardial infarction in a prospective, randomized study. Forty-four patients (31 men and 13 women, mean age 58 ± 12 years) with an occluded infarct-related coronary artery were randomized to FrCA (n = 25) or no PTCA (n = 19). Patients received acetylsalicylic acid, a β blocker and an angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitor unless contraindicated. Left ventricular ejection fraction was determined at baseline and 4 months. Coronary angiography was repeated at 4 months. Baseline ejection fraction measured 20 ± 12 days after myocardial infarction was 45 ± 12% in both groups. PTCA was performed 21 ± 13 days after the event. The primary PTCA success rate was 72%. One patient in each group died before angiographic follow-up, which was completed in 37 of the remaining 42 patients (88%; 21 with and 16 without PTCA). At 4 months, the infarct-related artery was patent in 43% of FrCA patients and in 19% of no PTCA patients (p = NS). Reocclusion occurred in 40%A of patients after successful PTCA. Secondary analyses showed that the change in left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly greater in patients with a patent infarct-related artery (+9.4 ± 6.2%) than in those with an occluded artery (+1.6 ± 8.8%; p = 0.0096). Baseline ejection fraction also independently predicted improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.0001). Sustained potency of the infarct-related artery, even when achieved late, may improve left ventricular ejection fraction of patients with a recent Q-wave myocardial infarction. The efficacy of PTCA in this setting is limited by a high reoclusion rate. Further studies are needed to examine methods to minimize reocclusion and to investigate the effect of PTCA on ventricular function, analyzed on an Intention-to-treat basis, in patients with persistent occlusion of the Infarct-related artery after the acute phase of myocardial infarction.