Doppler Echocardiographic Predictors of Mortality in Female Rats After Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Background: Doppler echocardiogram is useful for the evaluation of anatomical and functional changes 4 in late myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. However, 110 Studies have evaluated the prognostic value of echocardiographic parameters I week after MI.Methods and Results: Doppler echocardiogram was performed in 84 female Wistar rats I week after M I to determine infarction size, left chambers dimensions, fractional area change (FAC) of the left ventricle (LV), mitral inflow and tissue Doppler, myocardial performance index (MPI), and signs of pulmonary hypertension. the 365-day follow-up Showed 53.6% mortality rate. Nonsurvivors showed larger (P < 05) MI size and cavity dimensions, poorer diastolic and Systolic function, and higher frequency of pulmonary hypertension. Parameters at early stage of MI associated with higher mortality risk by Cox multivariate regression model were FAC <= 37% (relative risk [RR] 3.78, 95% Cl, 1.50-9.53), MPI >= 0.60 (RR 3.49 95% Cl, 1.80-6.76), LV systolic area >= 0.26 cm(2) (RR 4.38, 95% C17 1.88-10.21), E/E' ratio >= 20.3 (RR 2.12, 95% Cl, 1.15-4.34), and E/A ratio associated with FAC (RR 2.99, 95% Cl, 1.44-6.18).Conclusion: Sonic diastolic and systolic Doppler echocardiographic parameters in rats may be able to predict late mortality risk after MI. (J Cardiac Fail 2009;15:163-108)