The most effective method of reperfusion in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), assisted by aspiration thrombectomy and administration of antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants. However, effective restoration of blood flow in the infarct-related artery may paradoxically result in further damage to the heart muscle...

UNLABELLED Myocardial salvage assessed by (99m)Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy is a marker of myocardial tissue reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The prognostic value of myocardial salvage index in patients with acute myocardial infarction after reperfusion therapy has not, however, been investigated. METHODS We analyzed 765 patients with acute myocardial infarction randomiz...

Reperfusion therapy for ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes aims at early and complete recanalization of the infarct-related artery in order to salvage myocardium and improve both early and late clinical outcomes. The benefit rises exponentially the earlier therapy is initiated. The highest number of lives saved is within the first hour after symptom onset: the “golden hour.” The exponential ...

AIMS To determine the relative impact of time to hospital arrival, baseline cardiovascular risk (i.e.TIMI mortality risk index), intracerebral haemorrhage risk, and comorbid disease burden on the likelihood of not receiving reperfusion therapy among ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients without contraindications to treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS Retrospective population-...

Mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion injury are particularly complex, multifactorial and highly interconnected. A complex and entangled interaction is also emerging between platelet function, antiplatelet drugs, coronary diseases and ischemia/reperfusion injury, especially in diabetic conditions. Here we briefly summarize features of antiplatelet therapy in type 2 diab...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Uncertainty persists regarding the safety and efficacy of endovascular therapy of M2 occlusions following IV tPA. We reviewed the impact of revascularization on clinical outcomes in 83 patients with M2 occlusions in the Interventional Management of Stroke III trial according to specific M1-M2 segment anatomic features. MATERIALS AND METHODS Perfusion of any M2 branch di...

Myocardial salvage assessed by 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy is a marker of myocardial tissue reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The prognostic value of myocardial salvage index in patients with acute myocardial infarction after reperfusion therapy has not, however, been investigated. Methods: We analyzed 765 patients with acute myocardial infarction randomized to treatmen...

Acute heart attacks are a major healthcare problem with continuing high mortality and morbidity rates. The major goal in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the rapid restoration of blood flow and myocardial perfusion in the infarct zone. This can be achieved by either a pharmacological approach (fibrinolysis) or by a mechanical approach (immediate coronary angiography and cor...

Loss of integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) resulting from ischemia and reperfusion is a hypothesized precursor to hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and worse clinical outcome than would be expected from the beneficial effects of reperfusion. We used a novel magnetic resonance imaging marker to characterize early BBB disruption in acute focal brain ischemia and tested associations with rep...

Background Microvascular obstruction (MO) is one of the most important predictors of adverse outcome after reperfusion therapy in acute myocardial infarction (MI). Myocardial hemorrhage has been described as a contributor to reperfusion injury. Due to a lack of appropriate imaging techniques, the consequences of reperfusion hemorrhage have not been studied. The purpose of this study is to inves...