Global and regional left ventricular function improvement following successful percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

This study assessed changes in global and regional systolic left ventricular function after successful percutaneous recanalization of coronary artery occlusions. A consecutive series of 110 patients with mean+/-SD age of 53.6+/-9.1 years, in whom a complete angiographic evaluation was available before angioplasty, underwent successful percutaneous recanalization of significant occlusions of coronary arteries. Left ventricular ejection fraction and wall motion score index were assessed by echocardiography at baseline, and 1, and 6 months after recanalization. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased from a mean+/-SD of 40.7+/-4.52% at baseline to 50+/-8.3% after one month (P<0.001) and to 50.9+/-8.5% after 6 months. There was no significant difference between left ventricular ejection fraction at the end of the first and the sixth month of treatment (P = NS). The wall motion score index decreased from 1.3+/-0.2 at baseline to 1.1+/-0.2 after one month (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between 1 and 6 months results. Six-month follow-up of all patients showed significant improvement in both angina severity and NYHA class. The restoration of coronary potency of occluded coronary arteries by successful percutaneous recanalization is associated with significant improvement in regional and global left ventricular function and clinical outcome.