Influence of angiographic spontaneous coronary reperfusion on long-term prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of angiographic spontaneous coronary reperfusion (SR) on the short- and long-term outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients diagnosed as STEMI and undergoing emergent coronary angiography from January 2009 to August 2010 in a single center were enrolled. Patients whose initial coronary blood flow met Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 3 were regarded as angiographic SR. Others (TIMI grade < 3) were included into the NSR group and subsequently underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients’ characteristics and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: A total of 207 patients were eligible for analysis. The coincidence rate of patients both with ≥ 70% ST-segment resolution and ≥ 70% relief of chest pain and SR was 100%. Patients in the SR group (n = 38) were younger, had more smokers, with higher level of platelet count, lower blood glucose and uric acid, and more distal culprit lesions, as compared to the NSR group (n = 169). Importantly, patients in the SR group had lower rates of in-hospital events (0 vs. 22.5%, p < 0.001) with less stents placed (1.03 ± 1.05 vs. 1.59 ± 1.17, p = 0.007). Moreover, there were comparable long-term outcomes (2.6% vs. 6.9%, p = 0.302) between the two groups during 41-month follow ups. CONCLUSIONS: Angiographic SR is associated with significantly favorable short-term outcomes.