Role of inflammation in the extent of microvascular obstruction in patients undergoing primary PCI

Abstract: When considering the clinical significance of admission high CRP levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), it can be concluded that the development of poor myocardial perfusion may partially explain the relation between high CRP levels and poor clinical outcomes. We considered that poor myocardial perfusion after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not only related to procedural factors and clinical characteristics of the patients but may also be related with microvascular damage starting before PCI. We suggested that CRP mediated complement activation and neutrophil plugging may be the factors contributing to the development of microvascular damage in patients with AMI. Further large-scale randomized studies are needed to clarify the clinical utility of admission CRP levels in the prediction of poor myocardial perfusion after PCI in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]