Cardioprotection in Acute Myocardial Infarction: Ischemic Conditioning, Pharmacological Conditioning and Therapeutic Hypothermia

Abstract

Acute myocardial infarction remains the leading cause for death and disability worldwide, whereas current reperfusion therapies of jeopardized myocardium are very effective to limit short-term mortality. Clinical adverse clinical events are substantially determined by infarct size, which depends not only on the duration of ischemia but also, paradoxically, on the severity of reperfusion injury. Besides coronary revascularization, adjuvant therapies such as ischemic conditioning, pharmacological conditioning, and mild therapeutic hypothermia could prevent reperfusion injury in humans. The first clinical studies open up real perspectives for improving management of acute myocardial infarction.