Spontaneous delayed recovery of perfusion and contraction after the first 5 weeks after anterior infarction: Evidence for the presence of hibernating myocardium in the infarcted area

Abstract

Background: In patients with ventricular dysfunction caused by stunning or hibernation, it is not clear when complete recovery of the salvaged myocardium occurs after acute myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a delayed recovery of perfusion and contraction continues even after the subacute phase. Methods and Results: We prospectively studied 71 consecutive male patients with first uncomplicated Q-wave anterior infarction. Resting regional blood flow distribution and contraction were assessed quantitatively 5 weeks and 7 months after the acute phase by serial sestamibi tomography and two-dimensional echocardiography. Coronary angiography also was performed in 52 patients. Overall, at 7 months there was an improvement in the perfusion defect severity (1019±811 versus 1365±821 at 5 weeks, P