Predictors and prognosis of suboptimal coronary blood flow after primary coronary angioplasty in patients with acute myocardial infarction

We hypothesized that certain clinical and angiographic characteristics on p resentation predict suboptimal infarct artery flow after percutaneous inter vention during acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The goal of angioplasty ( percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty [PTCA]) during AMI is the pr ompt restoration of normal flow to achieve myocardial reperfusion. However, inadequate epicardial coronary flow is observed in 10% to 20% of patients. From 2 large randomized trials-Global Use of Strategies To open Occluded a rteries in Acute Coronary Syndromes-IIb, and Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Blockade With Primary Angioplasty f or Acute Myocardial Infarction-patients undergoing primary PTCA during AMI were included in the analysis. A multivariate logistic model was used to id entify factors associated with final Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade less than or equal to2. The 891 patients were aged (mean +/- SD) 61 +/- 12 years, 75% were men, and 39% had an anterior wall AMI. Pa tients underwent PTCA within 4.8 +/- 3.2 hours from the onset of chest pain . The incidence of final TIMI 3 flow was 81%. TIMI flow grade 12 was indepe ndently associated with increasing age (odds ratio [OR] 1.39 for every 10 y ears, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19 to 1.62), increasing heart rate (OR 1.16 for every 10 beats, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.28), and presence of visible thr ombus on baseline angiogram (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.05). Conversely, bas eline TIMI 2 or 3 flow grade (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.75) and left circum flex intervention (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.79) correlated with normal pos tprocedural coronary flow. Mortality was significantly higher in patients w ith TIMI less than or equal to2 than TIMI 3 flow grade (10.2% vs 1.5%, p < 0.001, respectively). Thus, angiographic evidence of thrombus and 2 pivotal clinical characteristics, advanced age and elevated heart rate, predict lo ck of adequate coronary reperfusian. Conversely, the presence of normal or near-normal coronary flow before intervention correlates with a good angiog raphic result. Mortality risk is increased in patients with postprocedural suboptimal angiographic coronary flow. (C) 2001 by Excerpta Medico, Inc.