The phenomenon of reperfusion injury is responsible for 50 % of the final infarct size. Several pharmacological and non-pharmacological agents administered before or during the ischemic period could significantly reduce infarct size in experimental studies in humans, but the results were inconsistent.
This study tested the hypothesis that intravenous nitroprusside infusion immediately before the opening of the infarct-related artery could reduce reperfusion injury. Patients were included within 12 hours of onset of symptoms with TIMI 0-1 flow in the culprit artery. The primary end point was the infarct size measured by MRI. 280 patients were randomized (146 nitroprusside and 134 placebo) could not demonstrate significant differences between both groups after a week and at 6 months.
Conclusion:
The intravenous infusion of sodium nitroprusside 5 minutes before primary angioplasty did not reduce infarct size.
Nishat Siddiqi
2013-11-17
Original title: Nitrites in Acute Myocardial Infarction.
