The size of myocardial infarction and peri-infarction edema are not major determinants of diastolic impairment after acute myocardial infarction

AimsDiastolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI) is a marker of poor prognosis. The relationship between myocardial infarction size (IS), myocardial edema, and diastolic dysfunction is poorly understood, both in the acute phase, and in the development of diastolic dysfunction in the follow-up setting. Using a mechanistic approach could potentially add insights. Methods and resultsPatients underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and echocardiography including mechanistic analysis using the parameterized diastolic filling method within 4-7 days (acute) and 6 months after a first acute anterior MI (n=74). Linear regression modeling of echocardiographic diastolic parameters using CMR IS with and without inclusion of the myocardium at risk (MAR) and model comparisons with likelihood ratio tests were performed. Diastolic parameters at 6 months follow-up were modelled using final IS. For most parameters there was no association with acute IS, except for deceleration time (R2=0.24, p<0.001), left atrial volume index (R2=0.13, p=0.01) and the mechanistic stiffness parameter (R2=0.21, p<0.001). Adding MAR improved only the e' model (adjusted R2 increase: 0.08, p=0.02). At 6 months follow-up, final IS was only associated with viscoelastic energy loss (R2=0.22, p=0.001). ConclusionIn acute MI, both IS and MAR are related to diastolic function but only to a limited extent. At 6 months after infarction, increasing IS is related to less viscoelastic energy loss, albeit also to a limited extent. The relationship between IS and diastolic dysfunction seems to be mediated by mechanisms beyond simply the spatial extent of ischemia or infarction.