Relying on more than 50 years of data on acute MI with reperfusion therapy, the society has identified the following four stages of progressively worsening myocardial tissue injury:
Aborted MI (no or minimal myocardial necrosis).
MI with significant cardiomyocyte necrosis but without microvascular injury.
Cardiomyocyte necrosis and microvascular dysfunction leading to microvascular obstruction (that is, "no-reflow").
Cardiomyocyte and microvascular necrosis leading to reperfusion hemorrhage.