Heterogeneity of the No-Reflow Group After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Due to ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction - Are There Sex Differences?

Abstract

Aims: Assessment of the diversity in the no-reflow population after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) due to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Are there any gender-related differences?

Material and methods: Analysis of 1063 STEMI patients with Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 0 or 1 following pPCI. The study group consisted of 685 patients with TIMI grade 0 and of 378 patients with TIMI grade 1. We analyzed clinical characteristics, in-hospital mortality and 2-year follow-up in both groups.

Results: Among women with the TIMI grade 1 an atrial fibrillation, tachycardia and impaired ejection fraction were more common than in men. The vessel responsible for myocardial infarction was most commonly the left anterior descending (LAD) in women, whereas the right coronary artery (RCA) in men. These differences were not observed in group with TIMI grade 0. We observed a higher incidence of in-hospital death in the population with TIMI grade 0 compared with TIMI grade 1 (21.9% vs 17.2%; p 0.0189). In the TIMI grade 1 group there was significantly higher incidence of in-hospital mortality in women compared to men (13.2% vs 22.7%; p 0,0159). Among women with postprocedural TIMI grade 0 in all periods of long-term follow-up the mortality was significantly higher compared to men (9.5% vs 17%; p 0,0111; 11.8% vs 19.7%; p 0.0139 and 16.7% vs 23.9%; p 0.043 for 6-,12-months and 2-years of follow up respectively).

Conclusions: Patients with no-reflow phenomenon in infarct related artery after pPCI constitute a more diverse group than previously thought. Some differences are most likely gender-specific. The female sex might have an adverse effect on in-hospital mortality in case of TIMI grade 1 and on the long-term prognosis among patients with TIMI grade 0.

Keywords: No-reflow; Primary percutaneous coronary intervention; ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; Sex differences; Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction.