More complete ST-segment resolution (ST res) in acute myocardial infarction (MI) has been associated with better epicardial and myocardial reperfusion as assessed with the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade (TFG) and the TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG), respectively. However, no data exist comparing the speed of ST resolution on continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring with the TMPG on coronary angiography. We hypothesized that delayed ST res is associated with impaired TMPGs.

Continuous 12-lead ECG recordings and 60-minute angiographic data were analyzed in 120 patients with acute MI who received tenectaplase monotherapy or combination therapy with low-dose tenectaplase and eptifibatide in the Integrilin and Tenecteplase in Acute Myocardial Infarction (INTEGRITI) trial.

More rapid ST res on continuous ECG monitoring was associated with improved TMPGs on coronary angiography performed 60 minutes after study drug administration. For TMPG 3, the median time to ST resolution was 53 minutes. For TMPG 2, 1, and 0, the corresponding times were 64 minutes, 80 minutes, and 106 minutes, respectively (P = .01 for trend). Likewise, more rapid ST res was also associated with faster epicardial flow. For TFG 3, the median time to ST resolution was 46 minutes, compared with 109 minutes for TIMI flow grades 0 to 2 (P = .001). The corresponding times for a corrected TIMI frame count ≤40 versus >40 were 52 minutes and 112 minutes, respectively (P <.001).

Although the static ECG has been associated with epicardial and myocardial blood flow in the past, this study extends these observations to demonstrate that more rapid ST res on continuous ECG monitoring is associated with improved myocardial perfusion after thrombolytic administration.