부산대학교 도서관

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI; heart attack) is a condition that results from acute blockade of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. The resulting reduction in cardiac blood flow can cause permanent cardiac damage or death. In some cases, AMI may be difficult to diagnose because the blockade may be relatively minor, resulting in minimal clinical symptoms. Even in such cases, a definitive diagnosis is important to determine the course of treatment, lifestyle changes, and other actions that should be undertaken following heart attack. The uptake of radioactively labeled (111-In) antimyosin, an antibody against one of the proteins in muscle fibers, is a sensitive and specific diagnostic tool for the detection of AMI. Owing to an incomplete understanding of the relation between 111-In uptake and infarct age, this technique has not been used as an indicator of the age of the infarct (an important variable in determining the course of treatment). To investigate this relationship, a study was carried out involving 90 consecutive AMI patients at various intervals since infarct occurrence. All patients received injections of 111-In-labeled antimyosin and underwent imaging 24 hours later to determine the degree of uptake by the heart. Antimyosin uptake could be detected as long as 154 days following infarct. An exponential decline was observed in the amount of 111-In antimyosin uptake as a function of time following infarct. In nine patients, repeated determinations of antimyosin uptake were made at various time intervals after AMI; the same mathematical relationship was observed within patients as between patients. Hence, 111-In antimyosin uptake by cardiac tissue following AMI can be used as a tool for quantitative estimation of infarct age. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)