Patterns of myocardial perfusion in the acute and chronic stage after myocardial infarction: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to monitor the microvascular perfusion damage in the acute and chronic stage after myocardial infarction (MI) using first-pass dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Furthermore we compared improvement of myocardial microcirculation and function in infarcted and non-infarcted left midventricular segments over a 4 months period.

Materials And Methods: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) was performed in 46 consecutive patients within 8 days after successful reperfused first acute ST-elevation MI and 4 months thereafter.