Progression in attenuating myocardial reperfusion injury: an overview.

Abstract

Reperfusion by means of percutaneous coronary intervention or thrombolytic therapy is the most effective treatment for acute myocardial infarction, markedly reducing mortality and morbidity. Reperfusion however induces necrotic and apoptotic damages to cardiomyocytes, that were viable prior to reperfusion, a process called lethal reperfusion injury. This process, consisting of many single processes, may be responsible of up to half of the final infarct size. A myriad of therapies as an adjunct to reperfusion have been studied with the purpose to attenuate reperfusion injury. The majority of these studies have been disappointing or contradicting, but recent proof-of-concept trials show that reperfusion injury still is a legitimate target. This overview will discuss these trials, the progression in attenuating myocardial reperfusion injury, promising therapies, and future perspectives.

• Authors: F J P Bernink, L Timmers, A M Beek, M Diamant, S T Roos, A C Van Rossum, Y Appelman
• Journal: International journal of cardiology (Int J Cardiol) Vol. 170 Issue 3 Pg. 261-9 (Jan 01 2014) ISSN: 1874-1754 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 24289874 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Humans
• Ischemic Postconditioning
• Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial
• Myocardial Infarction (therapy)
• Myocardial Reperfusion Injury (therapy)
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
• Thrombolytic Therapy