Evaluation and simplified measurement of infarct size by myocardial contrast echocardiography in a rat model of myocardial infarction

• DOI: 10.1007/s10554-009-9474-x
• Publication Date: 2009-07-21T14:37:05Z
• Authors: Xianghui Chen; Kai Cui; Jiancheng Xiu; Huanbing Lin; Yi Lao; Biying Zhou; Feixue Liang; Daogang Zha; Jianping Bin; Yili Liu
• Keywords: Male; Staining and Labeling; Myocardium; Myocardial Infarction; Contrast Media; Reproducibility of Results; Tetrazolium Salts; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Disease Models, Animal; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Echocardiography; Predictive Value of Tests; Animals; Feasibility Studies; Coloring Agents

To test the feasibility and accuracy of myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) for predicting infarct size (IS) in a rat model of myocardial infarction (MI) and to compare a simplified single plane-based measurement of IS with the conventional three plane-based approach. Fifty male SD rats underwent left anterior descending artery ligation and were evaluated by MCE 8 h post MI. IS was calculated by the single and three plane-based approaches, compared to that determined by triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining method. Simplified single plane-based MCE approach and TTC method showed similar IS values (38.48 +/- 16.80% vs. 35.72 +/- 15.33%, P > 0.05) and presented a favorable positive correlation (r = 0.851, P < 0.001). IS values derived from simplified single plane-based approach was also highly significantly correlated with that by the conventional MCE method (r = 0.973, P < 0.001). Bland-Altman plots also displayed satisfactory agreement between them. MCE was validated as a novel technique to quantify infarct area in rats with MI. A single measurement at the mid-papillary muscle level may become a simple, efficient and reliable approach for in vivo IS assessment.