MRI Perfusion Indices During the Evolution of Microembolized Myocardial Infarct

Maythem Saeed¹, Jessica Murayama¹, Carol Stillson¹, Loi Do¹, Steven W. Hetts², Mark W. Wilson¹

The aims were to chronologically monitor and compare myocardial perfusion in swine subjected to infarct with and without coronary microemboli release. Gradient echo pulse sequences were used to monitor Gd-DTPA passage in LV and measure infarct size at 3 days and 5 weeks after interventions. Microemboli in pre-existing infarct induced progressive perfusion deficit, increased incidence of microvascular obstruction, and infarct size. MR indices of myocardial perfusion provide valuable information on the effects of coronary microemboli in pre-existing AMI and hypertrophied remote myocardium. The high sensitivity of MR perfusion makes it a powerful tool in evaluation of new distal filtration devices.