Relation of absence of ST reelevation immediately after reperfusion and success of reperfusion with myocardial salvage.

To examine whether resolution in ST elevation without ST reelevation immediately after reperfusion indicates successful reperfusion with myocardial salvage, we studied 40 patients who had an extensive acute myocardial infarction with early reperfusion: 24 patients had ST reelevation and 16 patients had no ST reelevation. Results indicate that (1) in the group with ST reelevation, rapid progression of myocardial damage occurs by reperfusion itself (i.e., reperfusion injury) and (2) in the group without ST reelevation, myocardial damage had already been extensive and irreversible at the time of reperfusion; thus, the absence of ST reelevation is not always a sign of reperfusion with myocardial salvage.