Abstract
The article presents the features of the morphologic structure of intracoronary thrombi and the prognosis of acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients of different age groups.
Methods: Histological analysis of the aspirated intracoronary clots was performed in 97 patients with STEMI. The patients were divided into two groups: 11 patients aged under 44 (young group) and the remaining older than 45 (older group). The short-term prognosis was determined by: ST-segment resolution, achievement of good coronary flow, myocardial blush, indices of myocardial contractility, and QS wave formation on ECG. The study’s endpoints determined the long-term prognosis: The onset or worsening of angina symptoms, coronary revascularization (PCI or CABG), AMI, and death.
Results: Elderly patients were substantially more likely to have a history of coronary artery disease, as well as angina attacks, or their equivalents, at rest a few days before the onset of STEMI and arterial hypertension. Dyslipidemia was significantly more common in young patients. Formation of microchannels within the thrombi was significantly more common among older patients. Achieving the target quality of microcirculation was substantially more frequent among young patients (p=0.007). The long-term prognosis was better in young patients due to the lower prevalence of the combined endpoint.
Conclusions: Elderly patients were more likely to have intracoronary thrombi with microchannel formation, indicating a longer duration of the thrombotic process. The long-term prognosis after STEMI was significantly better in young patients.