Early dysfunction and long-term improvement in endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the infarct-related artery after thrombolysis

Objectives This study assessed the degree of endothelial dysfunction in post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and its subsequent status in the infarct-related artery (IRA) in patients treated with thrombolysis. Background Coronary flow reserve alterations in the IRA after thrombolysis have been described, but the endothelium-dependent vasomotion has not been investigated, to date. Methods Endothelial function in patients after thrombolysis was assessed by infusion of acetylcholine (ACh) at increasing doses in the IRA. Diameter changes in the distal segments were evaluated using quantitative coronary angiography. Patients with coronary atherosclerosis constituted the control group. Clinical variables, electrocardiography and biochemical markers were used to determine the timing of reperfusion and the extent of the infarct. Patients in the AMI group were re-evaluated one year later. Results In the initial assessment, 16 patients showed a vasoconstriction response to ACh in the IRA compared to the control group (-20+/-21% vs. 4+/-4%; p<0.01). Significant correlations between the degree of vasoconstriction and maximum value of the creatine kinase-MB fraction and number of new Q waves were observed. Of the 12 patients re-evaluated, 4 had complete occlusion of the IRA. In the remaining eight patients with patent artery, an improvement in response to ACh was observed relative to the initial study (+3 +/- 11%, vs. -19 +/- 15%, p<0.05). Conclusions In patients with AMI treated with thrombolysis, severe endothelial dysfunction in the IRA is observed early. In patients who retain patency of the IRA, the endothelial dysfunction improves during the follow-up and suggests a component of stunned endothelium in the first few days post-AMI.