Analysis of regional function and remodeling after thrombolysis: are iterative studies necessary?

The sensitivity of regional wall motion analysis to detect differences between groups one month after myocardial infarction was examined in 53 patients who had received thrombolysis and either had an open vessel or an occluded culprit artery at follow-up. Although the left ventricular volumes were not significantly different between groups, wall motion analysis objectivated differences between the two groups, particularly in the apical area. Similarly, the method evidenced differences between patients treated or not with dipyridamole at the time of reperfusion. Thus, quantitative wall motion analysis obtained from a single time point can be used to analyze pathophysiologic mechanisms or, in pilot studies, to assess the effects of cardioprotective drugs during thrombolysis.<>