Increased C reactive protein and cardiac enzyme levels after coronary stent implantation. Is there protection by remote ischaemic preconditioning?

Aim: To investigate whether remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) can attenuate the inflammatory response and enzyme leakage that can occur after uncomplicated routine percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: 41 consecutive normotensive patients with stable angina and single-vessel disease were assigned to be exposed to RIPC (n = 20) or not (control group; n = 21) before elective PCI with stent implantation. RIPC was induced by three cycles of 5-min ischaemia-reperfusion of both upper limbs (inflation/deflation of blood pressure cuff).

Paradoxical effect of ischemic preconditioning on ischemic contracture? NMR studies of energy metabolism and intracellular pH in the rat heart.

Using the blood-perfused rat heart, we have previously shown that although ischemic preconditioning (PC) and cardioplegia (CP) afforded similar protection against post-ischemic contractile dysfunction this effect was not additive even though PC accelerated whereas CP delayed ischemic contracture. Using NMR we examined the effects of these interventions on pHi and ATP metabolism during global ischemia. Isolated rat hearts (n = 6/group) with an intraventricular balloon were aerobically perfused with buffer, subjected to zero flow ischemia (37 degrees C) for 35 min and reperfused for 40 min.

Dichotomy of ischemic preconditioning: improved postischemic contractile function despite intensification of ischemic contracture.

Background: Acceleration of ischemic contracture is conventionally accepted as a predictor of poor postischemic function. Hence, protective interventions such as cardioplegia delay ischemic contracture and improve postischemic contractile recovery. We compared the effect of ischemic preconditioning and cardioplegia (alone and in combination) on ischemic contracture and postischemic contractile recovery.

Ischemic preconditioning, cardioplegia or both? Differing approaches to myocardial and vascular protection.

We compared the anti-ischemic efficacy of cardioplegia and ischemic preconditioning and whether their effects are additive for both myocyte and vascular protection. Isolated blood-perfused rat hearts were subjected to zero flow global ischemia (37 degrees C) for 30 min and reperfusion for 40 min. Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) was assessed with an intraventricular balloon.