Acute myocardial infarction - the value of being prepared
Article Abstract:
Heart attacks that are preceded by recurrent chest pain cause less heart damage and may respond more quickly to anticlotting therapy than heart attacks that are not preceded by chest pain. Several reasons may explain the difference in damage. Chest pain, which is usually caused by partial blockage of the coronary arteries that feed the heart, may precondition some heart muscle to function with less blood. Partial blockage may also cause normally closed blood vessels to open and supplement the heart's blood supply. Patients with chest pain may also take aspirin and heparin which lessens the effect of the heart attack. After the heart attack, these patient may be more responsive to therapy because of chemical and cellular components of the blood clot causing the attack. On the other hand these patients may simply receive treatment sooner. In any case, this greater responsiveness to anticlotting therapy may guide physicians in deciding how to treat heart attacks.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1996
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An association between collateral blood flow and myocardial viability in patients with recent myocardial infarction
Article Abstract:
Heart attack patients with higher collateral blood flow to the affected area of the heart may experience better recovery than those with lower collateral blood flow. Collateral blood flow is the amount of blood supplied to the muscle of the heart by blood vessels not involved in the heart attack. Echocardiography was used on 41 patients who had suffered a heart attack to measure the function of the heart before and after angioplasty. Heart function in the area affected by the heart attack improved in 25 (78%) of the 32 who were successfully treated. This was true in only 11% of the patients in whom angioplasty was unsuccessful. Among the patients in whom angioplasty was successful, improvement in heart function was greater in those with more than 50% collateral blood flow to the affected area of the heart than in those with lower collateral blood flow.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1992
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