EXPERT CONSENSUS DOCUMENT
Third universal definition of myocardial infarction
Kristian Thygesen, Joseph S. Alpert, Allan S. Jaffe, Maarten L. Simoons,
Bernard R. Chaitman and Harvey D. White: the Writing Group on behalf of the Joint
ESC/ACCF/AHA/WHF Task Force for the Universal Definition of Myocardial
Infarction
Authors/Task Force Members Chairpersons: Kristian Thygesen(Denmark)*,
Joseph S. Alpert, (USA)*, Harvey D. White, (New Zealand)*, Biomarker
Subcommittee: Allan S. Jaffe (USA), Hugo A. Katus (Germany), Fred S. Apple (USA),
Bertil Lindahl (Sweden), David A. Morrow (USA), ECG Subcommittee:
Bernard R. Chaitman (USA), Peter M. Clemmensen (Denmark), Per Johanson
(Sweden), Hanoch Hod (Israel), Imaging Subcommittee: Richard Underwood (UK),
Jeroen J. Bax (The Netherlands), Robert O. Bonow (USA), Fausto Pinto (Portugal),
Raymond J.Gibbons (USA),ClassificationSubcommittee:KeithA.Fox (UK),DanAtar
(Norway), L. Kristin Newby (USA), Marcello Galvani (Italy), Christian W. Hamm
(Germany), Intervention Subcommittee: Barry F. Uretsky (USA), Ph. Gabriel Steg
(France),WilliamWijns (Belgium), Jean-Pierre Bassand (France), Phillippe Menasche´
(France), Jan Ravkilde (Denmark), Trials & Registries Subcommittee:
E. Magnus Ohman (USA), Elliott M. Antman (USA), Lars C. Wallentin (Sweden),
Paul W. Armstrong (Canada), Maarten L. Simoons (The Netherlands), Heart Failure
Subcommittee: James L. Januzzi (USA), Markku S. Nieminen (Finland),
Mihai Gheorghiade (USA), Gerasimos Filippatos (Greece), Epidemiology
Subcommittee: Russell V. Luepker (USA), Stephen P. Fortmann (USA),
Wayne D. Rosamond (USA), Dan Levy (USA), DavidWood (UK), Global Perspective
Subcommittee: Sidney C. Smith (USA), Dayi Hu (China), Jose´-Luis Lopez-Sendon
(Spain), Rose Marie Robertson (USA), Douglas Weaver (USA), Michal Tendera
(Poland), Alfred A. Bove (USA), Alexander N. Parkhomenko (Ukraine),
Elena J. Vasilieva (Russia), Shanti Mendis (Switzerland).
ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines (CPG): Jeroen J. Bax, (CPG Chairperson) (Netherlands),
Helmut Baumgartner (Germany), Claudio Ceconi (Italy), Veronica Dean (France), Christi Deaton (UK),
Robert Fagard (Belgium), Christian Funck-Brentano (France), David Hasdai (Israel), Arno Hoes (Netherlands),
Paulus Kirchhof (Germany/UK), Juhani Knuuti (Finland), Philippe Kolh (Belgium), Theresa McDonagh (UK),
Cyril Moulin (France), Bogdan A. Popescu (Romania), Zˇeljko Reiner (Croatia), Udo Sechtem (Germany),
Per Anton Sirnes (Norway), Michal Tendera (Poland), Adam Torbicki (Poland), Alec Vahanian (France),
StephanWindecker (Switzerland).
* Corresponding authors/co-chairpersons: Professor Kristian Thygesen, Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Tage-Hansens Gade 2, DK-8000 Aarhus C,
Denmark. Tel: +45 7846-7614; fax: +45 7846-7619: E-mail: kristhyg@rm.dk. Professor Joseph S. Alpert, Department of Medicine, Univ. of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501
N. Campbell Ave., P.O. Box 245037, Tucson AZ 85724, USA, Tel: +1 520 626 2763, Fax: +1 520 626 0967, Email: jalpert@email.arizona.edu. Professor Harvey D. White,
Green Lane Cardiovascular Service, Auckland City Hospital, Private Bag 92024, 1030 Auckland, New Zealand. Tel: +64 9 630 9992, Fax: +64 9 630 9915, Email: harveyw@
adhb.govt.nz.
& The European Society of Cardiology, American College of Cardiology Foundation, American Heart Association, Inc., and the World Heart Federation 2012. For permissions
please email: journals.permissions@oup.com
European Heart Journal
doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehs184
European Heart Journal Advance Access published August 24, 2012
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Document Reviewers: Joao Morais, (CPG Review Co-ordinator) (Portugal), Carlos Aguiar (Portugal),
Wael Almahmeed (United Arab Emirates), David O. Arnar (Iceland), Fabio Barili (Italy), Kenneth D. Bloch (USA),
Ann F. Bolger (USA), Hans Erik Bøtker (Denmark), Biykem Bozkurt (USA), Raffaele Bugiardini (Italy),
Christopher Cannon (USA), James de Lemos (USA), Franz R. Eberli (Switzerland), Edgardo Escobar (Chile),
Mark Hlatky (USA), Stefan James (Sweden), Karl B. Kern (USA), David J. Moliterno (USA), Christian Mueller
(Switzerland), Aleksandar N. Neskovic (Serbia), Burkert Mathias Pieske (Austria), Steven P. Schulman (USA),
Robert F. Storey (UK), KathrynA.Taubert (Switzerland), PascalVranckx (Belgium),Daniel R.Wagner (Luxembourg)
The disclosure forms of the authors and reviewers are available on the ESC website www.escardio.org/guidelines
Table of Contents
Abbreviations and acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Definition of myocardial infarction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Criteria for acute myocardial infarction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Criteria for prior myocardial infarction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Pathological characteristics of myocardial ischaemia and infarction 4
Biomarker detection of myocardial injury with necrosis . . . . . . 4
Clinical features of myocardial ischaemia and infarction . . . . . . 5
Clinical classification of myocardial infarction . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI type 1) . . . . . . . . . 6
Myocardial infarction secondary to an ischaemic imbalance
(MI type 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Cardiac death due to myocardial infarction (MI type 3) . . . . 7
Myocardial infarction associated with revascularization
procedures (MI types 4 and 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Electrocardiographic detection of myocardial infarction . . . . . . 7
Prior myocardial infarction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Silent myocardial infarction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Conditions that confound the ECG diagnosis of myocardial
infarction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Imaging techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Echocardiography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Radionuclide imaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Magnetic resonance imaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Computed tomography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Applying imaging in acute myocardial infarction . . . . . . . . . 10
Applying imaging in late presentation of myocardial infarction 10
Diagnostic criteria for myocardial infarction with PCI (MI type 4) 10
Diagnostic criteria for myocardial infarction with CABG (MI type
5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Assessment of MI in patients undergoing other cardiac
procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Myocardial infarction associated with non-cardiac procedures . . 12
Myocardial infarction in the intensive care unit . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Recurrent myocardial infarction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Reinfarction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Myocardial injury or infarction associated with heart failure . . . . 12
Application of MI in clinical trials and quality assurance
programmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Public policy implications of the adjustment of the MI definition 13
Global perspectives of the definition of myocardial infarction . . 14
Conflicts of interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Abbreviations and acronyms
ACCF American College of Cardiology Foundation
ACS acute coronary syndrome
AHA American Heart Association
CAD coronary artery disease
CABG coronary artery bypass grafting
CKMB creatine kinase MB isoform
cTn cardiac troponin
CT computed tomography
CV coefficient of variation
ECG electrocardiogram
ESC European Society of Cardiology
FDG fluorodeoxyglucose
h hour(s)
HF heart failure
LBBB left bundle branch block
LV left ventricle
LVH left ventricular hypertrophy
MI myocardial infarction
mIBG meta-iodo-benzylguanidine
min minute(s)
MONICA Multinational MONItoring of trends and determinants
in CArdiovascular disease)
MPS myocardial perfusion scintigraphy
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
mV millivolt(s)
ng/L nanogram(s) per litre
Non-Q MI non-Q wave myocardial infarction
NSTEMI non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction
PCI percutaneous coronary intervention
PET positron emission tomography
pg/mL pictogram(s) per millilitre
Q wave MI Q wave myocardial infarction
RBBB right bundle branch block
sec second(s)
SPECT single photon emission computed tomography
STEMI ST elevation myocardial infarction
ST–T ST-segment –T wave
URL upper reference limit
WHF World Heart Federation
WHO World Health Organization
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Introduction
Myocardial infarction (MI) can be recognised by clinical features, in-
cluding electrocardiographic (ECG) findings, elevated values of bio-
chemical markers (biomarkers) of myocardial necrosis, and by
imaging, or may be defined by pathology. It is a major cause of
death and disability worldwide. MI may be the first manifestation
of coronary artery disease (CAD) or it may occur, repeatedly, in
patients with established disease. Information on MI rates can
provide useful information regarding the burden of CAD within
and across populations, especially if standardized data are collected
in a manner that distinguishes between incident and recurrent
events. From the epidemiological point of view, the incidence of
MI in a population can be used as a proxy for the prevalence of
CAD in that population. The term ‘myocardial infarction’ may
have major psychological and legal implications for the individual
and society. It is an indicator of one of the leading health problems
in the world and it is an outcome measure in clinical trials, obser-
vational studies and quality assurance programmes. These studies
and programmes require a precise and consistent definition of MI.
In the past, a general consensus existed for the clinical syndrome
designated as MI. In studies of disease prevalence, the World
Health Organization (WHO) defined MI from symptoms, ECG
abnormalities and cardiac enzymes. However, the development
of ever more sensitive and myocardial tissue-specific cardiac
biomarkers and more sensitive imaging techniques now allows
for detection of very small amounts of myocardial injury or
necrosis. Additionally, the management of patients with MI has
significantly improved, resulting in less myocardial injury and necro-
sis, in spite of a similar clinical presentation. Moreover, it appears
necessary to distinguish the various conditions which may cause
MI, such as ‘spontaneous’ and ‘procedure-related’ MI. Accordingly,
physicians, other healthcare providers and patients require an
up-to-date definition of MI.
In 2000, the First Global MI Task Force presented a new
definition of MI, which implied that any necrosis in the setting of
myocardial ischaemia should be labelled as MI.1 These principles
were further refined by the Second Global MI Task Force,
leading to the Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction
Consensus Document in 2007, which emphasized the different
conditions which might lead to an MI.2 This document, endorsed
by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the American
College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF), the American Heart
Association (AHA), and the World Heart Federation (WHF), has
been well accepted by the medical community and adopted by
the WHO.3 However, the development of even more sensitive
assays for markers of myocardial necrosis mandates further
revision, particularly when such necrosis occurs in the setting of
the critically ill, after percutaneous coronary procedures or after
cardiac surgery. The Third Global MI Task Force has continued
the Joint ESC/ACCF/AHA/WHF efforts by integrating these
insights and new data into the current document, which now
recognizes that very small amounts of myocardial injury or necrosis
can be detected by biochemical markers and/or imaging.
Definition of myocardial infarction
Criteria for acute myocardial infarction
The term acute myocardial infarction (MI) should be used when there is evidence of myocardial necrosis in a clinical setting consistent with acute myocardial
ischaemia. Under these conditions any one of the following criteria meets the diagnosis for MI:
• Detection of a rise and/or fall of cardiac biomarker values [preferably cardiac troponin (cTn)] with at least one value above the 99th percentile upper
reference limit (URL) and with at least one of the following:
Symptoms of ischaemia.
New or presumed new significant ST-segment–T wave (ST–T) changes or new left bundle branch block (LBBB).
Development of pathological Q waves in the ECG.
Imaging evidence of new loss of viable myocardium or new regional wall motion abnormality.
Identification of an intracoronary thrombus by angiography or autopsy.
• Cardiac death with symptoms suggestive of myocardial ischaemia and presumed new ischaemic ECG changes or new LBBB,but death occurred before cardiac
biomarkers were obtained, or before cardiac biomarker values would be increased.
• Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) related MI is arbitrarily defined by elevation of cTn values (>5 x 99th percentile URL) in patients with normal
baseline values (≤99th percentile URL) or a rise of cTn values >20% if the baseline values are elevated and are stable or falling. In addition, either (i) symptoms
suggestive of myocardial ischaemia or (ii) new ischaemic ECG changes or (iii) angiographic findings consistent with a procedural complication or (iv) imaging
demonstration of new loss of viable myocardium or new regional wall motion abnormality are required.
• Stent thrombosis associated with MI when detected by coronary angiography or autopsy in the setting of myocardial ischaemia and with a rise and/or fall of
cardiac biomarker values with at least one value above the 99th percentile URL.
• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) related MI is arbitrarily defined by elevation of cardiac biomarker values (>10 x 99th percentile URL) in patients
with normal baseline cTn values (≤99th percentile URL). In addition, either (i) new pathological Q waves or new LBBB, or (ii) angiographic documented new
graft or new native coronary artery occlusion, or (iii) imaging evidence of new loss of viable myocardium or new regional wall motion abnormality.
Criteria for prior myocardial infarction
Any one of the following criteria meets the diagnosis for prior MI:
• Pathological Q waves with or without symptoms in the absence of non-ischaemic causes.
• Imaging evidence of a region of loss of viable myocardium that is thinned and fails to contract, in the absence of a non-ischaemic cause.
• Pathological findings of a prior MI.
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Pathological characteristics
of myocardial ischaemia
and infarction
MI is defined in pathology as myocardial cell death due to pro-
longed ischaemia. After the onset of myocardial ischaemia, histo-
logical cell death is not immediate, but takes a finite period of
time to develop—as little as 20 min, or less in some animal
models.4 It takes several hours before myocardial necrosis can
be identified by macroscopic or microscopic post-mortem exam-
ination. Complete necrosis of myocardial cells at risk requires at
least 2–4 h, or longer, depending on the presence of collateral cir-
culation to the ischaemic zone, persistent or intermittent coronary
arterial occlusion, the sensitivity of the myocytes to ischaemia, pre-
conditioning, and individual demand for oxygen and nutrients.2 The
entire process leading to a healed infarction usually takes at least
5–6 weeks. Reperfusion may alter the macroscopic and micro-
scopic appearance.
Biomarker detection of
myocardial injury with necrosis
Myocardial injury is detected when blood levels of sensitive and
specific biomarkers such as cTn or the MB fraction of creatine
kinase (CKMB) are increased.2 Cardiac troponin I and T are com-
ponents of the contractile apparatus of myocardial cells and are
expressed almost exclusively in the heart. Although elevations of
these biomarkers in the blood reflect injury leading to necrosis
of myocardial cells, they do not indicate the underlying mechan-
ism.5 Various possibilities have been suggested for release of struc-
tural proteins from the myocardium, including normal turnover of
myocardial cells, apoptosis, cellular release of troponin degradation
products, increased cellular wall permeability, formation and
release of membranous blebs, and myocyte necrosis.6 Regardless
of the pathobiology, myocardial necrosis due to myocardial ischae-
mia is designated as MI.
Also, histological evidence of myocardial injury with necrosis
may be detectable in clinical conditions associated with predomin-
antly non-ischaemic myocardial injury. Small amounts of myocar-
dial injury with necrosis may be detected, which are associated
with heart failure (HF), renal failure, myocarditis, arrhythmias, pul-
monary embolism or otherwise uneventful percutaneous or surgi-
cal coronary procedures. These should not be labelled as MI or a
complication of the procedures, but rather as myocardial injury, as
illustrated in Figure 1. It is recognized that the complexity of clinical
circumstances may sometimes render it difficult to determine
where individual cases may lie within the ovals of Figure 1. In this
setting, it is important to distinguish acute causes of cTn elevation,
which require a rise and/or fall of cTn values, from chronic
Figure 1 This illustration shows various clinical entities: for example, renal failure, heart failure, tachy- or bradyarrhythmia, cardiac or non-
cardiac procedures that can be associated with myocardial injury with cell death marked by cardiac troponin elevation. However, these entities
can also be associated with myocardial infarction in case of clinical evidence of acute myocardial ischaemia with rise and/or fall of cardiac
troponin.
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elevations that tend not to change acutely. A list of such clinical cir-
cumstances associated with elevated values of cTn is presented in
Table 1. The multifactorial contributions resulting in the myocardial
injury should be described in the patient record.
The preferred biomarker—overall and for each specific category
of MI—is cTn (I or T), which has high myocardial tissue specificity
as well as high clinical sensitivity. Detection of a rise and/or fall of
the measurements is essential to the diagnosis of acute MI.7 An
increased cTn concentration is defined as a value exceeding the
99th percentile of a normal reference population [upper reference
limit (URL)]. This discriminatory 99th percentile is designated as
the decision level for the diagnosis of MI and must be determined
for each specific assay with appropriate quality control in each
laboratory.8,9 The values for the 99th percentile URL defined by
manufacturers, including those for many of the high-sensitivity
assays in development, can be found in the package inserts for
the assays or in recent publications.10,11,12
Values should be presented as nanograms per litre (ng/L) or
picograms per millilitre (pg/mL) to mak