by The Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) has unveiled a groundbreaking classification for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or heart attack, which is based on research into heart tissue damage. The classification, known as CCS-AMI, was presented at the Vascular 2023 conference in Montréal and published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology. The classification was conceptualized by two cardiovascular investigators from the Ischemic Heart Disease Program of Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center at Indiana University School of Medicine and Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
The CCS-AMI classification, consisting of four stages, aims to assist cardiologists in determining the extent of tissue damage in the heart muscle following a heart attack. This information can then be used to guide treatment decisions and prevent further complications. The classification combines clinical data with knowledge of the pathophysiology of heart muscle damage, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the injury caused by a heart attack.
The authors of the consensus paper emphasize the importance of incorporating tissue-level changes into the classification to enhance research and develop targeted therapies for each stage of heart attack. The CCS-AMI classification outlines the stages of myocardial infarction, ranging from aborted myocardial infarction to cardiomyocyte necrosis, microvascular obstruction, and reperfusion hemorrhage.
According to Dr. Rohan Dharmakumar, Executive Director of KCVRC, the last two stages of the classification are directly associated with reperfusion injury and extensive tissue damage. By providing a framework for understanding different stages of heart attack, the CCS-AMI classification paves the way for the development of new therapies and more personalized interventional cardiac care.
Dr. Keyur Vora, a physician scientist from KCVRC, highlights the potential of the classification to drive diagnostic and therapeutic clinical trials for patients with severe heart injuries. He believes that through a better understanding of myocardial infarction and tissue injury, the classification will lead to improved patient risk assessments and the development of more effective drugs.
Dr. Andreas Kumar, the immediate past Chief of Cardiology at Northern Ontario School of Medicine, describes the CCS-AMI classification as a game-changing tool that will enable better risk assessment and future drug development. He stresses that not all heart attacks are the same, and considering the precise stage of tissue injury will result in improved patient care and outcomes.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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