Research article

The importance of left ventricular function for long-term outcome after primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Pieter A van der Vleuten¹ , Saman Rasoul² , Willem Huurnink³ , Iwan CC van der Horst¹ , Riemer HJA Slart⁴ , Stoffer Reiffers , Rudi A Dierckx⁴ , René A Tio¹ , Jan Paul Ottervanger² , Menko-Jan De Boer² and Felix Zijlstra¹

¹Thoraxcentre, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Centre Groningen, The Netherlands

²Department of Cardiology, Isala klinieken, Zwolle, The Netherlands

³Department of Nuclear Medicine, Isala klinieken, Zwolle, The Netherlands

⁴Department of Nuclear Medicine and molecular imaging, University Medical Centre Groningen, The Netherlands

author email corresponding author email

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 2008, 8:4doi:10.1186/1471-2261-8-4

Published:	23 February 2008

Abstract

Background

In the present study we sought to determine the long-term prognostic value of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), assessed by planar radionuclide ventriculography (PRV), after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Methods

In total 925 patients underwent PRV for LVEF assessment after PPCI for myocardial infarction before discharge from the hospital. PRV was performed with a standard dose of 500 Mbq of ^99mTc-pertechnetate. Average follow-up time was 2.5 years.

Results

Mean (± SD) age was 60 ± 12 years. Mean (± SD) LVEF was 45.7 ± 12.2 %. 1 year survival was 97.3 % and 3 year survival was 94.2 %. Killip class, multi vessel-disease, previous cardiovascular events, peak creatin kinase and its MB fraction, age and LVEF proved to be univariate predictors of mortality. When entered in a forward conditional Cox regression model age and LVEF were independent predictors of 1 and 3 year mortality.

Conclusion

LVEF assessed by PRV is a powerful independent predictor of long term mortality after PPCI for STEMI.