Area at Risk and Viability after Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion Can Be Determined by Contrast-Enhanced Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

<i>Background/Aims:</i> Clinical differentiation between infarcted and viable myocardium in the ischemic area at risk is controversial. We investigated the potential of contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (ceCMRI) in determining the area at risk 24 h after ischemia. <i>Methods:</i> Myocardial ischemia was induced by percutaneous coronary intervention of the left anterior descending coronary artery in pigs. Coronary occlusion time was 30 min in group A, which caused little myocardial infarction and 45 min in group B, which led to irreversible damage. 24 h after reperfusion ceCMRI was performed at 2 and 15 min after administration of gadolinium-diethyl…