Assessment of microcirculation
reperfusion injury, microvascular dysfunction, STEMI
INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE
Prior studies have shown that reperfusion injury following primary PCI in patients with STEMI is equivalent to damage in the microcirculation causing microvascular dysfunction [Glucocorticoids may limit reperfusion injury by decreasing the inflammatory response in the microcirculation. To investigate this hypothesis, we will measure CFR and IMR on eligible patients included in the PULSE-MI trial directly after initial primary PCI but before the catheter is removed.