Introduction and objectives: The relationship between microcirculatory myocardial perfusion grade (MPG), myocardial salvage and long-term mortality after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and full restoration of epicardial blood flow by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains poorly understood.
Methods: This study included 1213 patients with STEMI and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade-3 flow after primary PCI. The MPG was determined and paired scintigraphic studies (before and 7-14 days after the intervention) were performed. The primary outcome was 5-year mortality.
Results: The MPG was 0-1 in 217 patients, 2 in 195, and 3 in 801. In patients with an MPG of 0-1, 2 and 3, respectively, the median infarct size was 13% (interquartile range [IQR] 5.6-28%), 12% (IQR 4-27%) and 7% (IQR 1-19%) of the left ventricle, respectively (P< .001), the myocardial salvage index (i.e. the proportion of the initial area at risk that recovered) was 0.44 (IQR 0.22-0.73), 0.46 (IQR 0.25-0.75) and 0.58 (IQR 0.31-0.85), respectively (P< .001), and the Kaplan-Meier estimated 5-year mortality was 16.6% (i.e. 28 deaths), 15.3% (i.e. 25 deaths) and 7.8% (i.e. 48 deaths), respectively. The odds ratio (OR) for death for an MPG of 0-1 vs. 3 was 2.32 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42-3.8; P< .001) and for an MPG of 2 vs. 3, 2.3 (95% CI 1.38-3.85; P=.001). The Cox proportional hazards model identified MPG as independently associated with mortality at 5 years: the hazard ratio for an MPG of 3 vs. 0-2 was 0.65 (95% CI 0.41-0.97; P=.037).
Conclusions: In patients with STEMI and TIMI grade-3 flow after primary PCI, suboptimal microcirculatory myocardial perfusion (i.e. MPG < or =2) was associated with poorer myocardial salvage, a larger infarct, and higher 5-year mortality than observed in patients whose tissue perfusion was reestablished (i.e. MPG=3).