Regional End-Systolic Circumferential Strain Demonstrates Reduced Function in Remote Myocardium after Anterior STEMI

Abstract

Anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with severe adverse remodeling and increased mortality rates. In this study, anterior STEMI patients were treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention and then imaged with cardiac magnetic resonance 1-2 days later. The cine images were analyzed with computational feature-tracking algorithms to assess end-systolic circumferential (ESC) strain. It was found that contractile function is not only depressed in the infarct and border zone regions, but also in the remote myocardium. This is contrary to other types of infarctions where remote myocardium shows enhanced compensatory function. Quantifying ESC could help identify high risk patients.