Infarct size determination using enzymatic methods in patients with early coronary recanalization

To evaluate the usefulness of the infarct size determined by serial creatine kinase (CPK) measurements in patients with early reperfusion, we have studied 189 patients meaning in age 59.2 +/- 8.6 years, with acute myocardial infarction treated with streptokinase (STK); 81 of them by intracoronary route (group A), and 108 by intravenous administration (group B). In the group A we performed serial angiographic studies in the following conditions: baseline, immediately after STK infusion and before hospital discharge. In group B we performed only one angiographic control 5 +/- 3 days after. In patients with reperfusion, the parameters of left ventricular function correlated with cumulative creatine kinase release (MAX-CPKr) by linear regression in both groups. We observed a tendency to closer correlations in patients with left anterior descending or circumflex artery as the infarct related artery, in patients without previous infarction and in those who did not receive electrical shock for ventricular arrhythmias. In patients with unsuccessful reperfusion (n = 11), we also obtain a significant correlation (r = 0.72) between ejection fraction and MAX-CPKr. The slope of the regression line (b = 7.7 X 10(-5) was steeper (p less than 0.05) than that observed in recanalized patients, who were evaluated within the first 3 days (b = 2.2 X 10(-5), after 8 +/- 5 days (b = 2.7 X 10(-5), or before discharge, at 22 +/- 9 days (b = 2.6 X 10(-5).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)