INCIDENCE OF HIBERNATING MYOCARDIUM AFTER ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTIONTREATED WITH THROMBOLYSIS

Objective-To establish the incidence of hibernating myocardium after m yocardial infarction treated with thrombolysis and to observe differen ces in the clinical outcome between patients with and without hibernat ing tissue. Methods-41 patients underwent gated positron emission tomo graphy with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose and N-13-ammonia at a median of eigh t days after first myocardial infarction. Results-All 41 subjects had a matched perfusion-metabolism deficit in the region of myocardium ind icated as the site of infarction by an electrocardiograph; 32 patients (78%) had scans which also showed at least one area of reduced blood flow and contraction with a concomitant increase in glucose uptake, re presenting hibernating myocardium. Patients were followed up at a medi an of six months: all 41 were alive and none had sustained a further i nfarct or cardiac arrhythmia; 17 subjects with hibernating tissue (53. 1%) and two without (25%) reported chest pain after myocardial infarct ion. Conclusions-Hibernating myocardium is relatively common shortly a fter myocardial infarction treated with thrombolysis. It does not infl uence mortality or the incidence of postinfarction chest pain.