The Impact of Sonothrombolysis on Left Ventricular Diastolic Function and Left Atrial Mechanics Preventing Left Atrial Remodeling in Patients With ST Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: The diagnostic ultrasound-guided high mechanical index impulses during an intravenous micro -bubble infusion (sonothrombolysis) improve myocardial perfusion in acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, but its effect on left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (DD), left atrial (LA) mechanics and remodeling is unknown. We assessed the effect of sonothrombolysis on DD grade and LA mechanics. Methods: One hundred patients (59 +/- 10 years; 34% women) were randomized to receive either high mechan-ical index impulses plus percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (therapy group) or PCI only (control group) (n = 50 in each group). Diastolic dysfunction grade and LA mechanics were assessed immediately before and after PCI and at 48 to 72 hours, 1 month, and 6 months of follow-up. Diastolic dysfunction grades were clas-sified as grades I, II, and III. The LA mechanics was obtained by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography-derived global longitudinal strain (GLS).Results: As follow-up time progressed, increased DD grade was observed more frequently in the control group than in the therapy group at 1 month and 6 months of follow-up (all P < .05). The LA-GLS values were incre-mentally higher in the therapy group when compared with the control group at 48 to 72 hours, 24.0% +/- 7.3% in the therapy group versus 19.6% +/- 7.2% in the control group, P = .005; at 1 month, 25.3% +/- 6.3% in the ther-apy group versus 21.5% +/- 8.3% in the control group, P = .020; and at 6 months, 26.2% +/- 8.7% in the therapy group versus 21.6% +/- 8.5% in the control group, P = .015. The therapy group was less likely to experience LA remodeling (odds ratio, 2.91 [1.10-7.73]; P = .03). LA-GLS was the sole predictor of LA remodeling (odds ratio, 0.79 [0.67-0.94]; P = .006).Conclusion: Sonothrombolysis is associated with better DD grade and LA mechanics, reducing LA remodel-ing. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2023;36:504-13.)

Automated summary

The use of diagnostic ultrasound-guided high mechanical index impulses improves myocardial perfusion in acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. This study assessed the effect of sonothrombolysis on left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (DD) and left atrial (LA) mechanics. The results showed that sonothrombolysis is associated with better DD grade and LA mechanics, reducing the likelihood of LA remodeling.