Coronary blood flow reserve and wall motion recovery in patients undergoing angioplasty for myocardial infarction

Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between coronary flow reserve and the recovery of wall motion contractility in patients with recent myocardial infarction. Methods and Results Nineteen patients (55 ± 8 years) undergoing balloon angioplasty for recent myocardial infarction were studied. After angioplasty, coronary flow reserve was lower in the infarct-related artery than in a reference artery, 2.2 ± 0.6 and 2.8 ± 0.7, respectively. P 1 unit SD), the immediate coronary flow reserve was higher (P<0.05) than in patients without improved wall motion. In this group, the increase in wall motion index was correlated to the coronary blood flow reserve (r=0.55; P<0.02). Conclusion These data show that after myocardial infarction, coronary flow reserve is associated with myocardial viability.