Rationale and Design of the Groningen Intervention Study for the Preservation of Cardiac Function with Sodium Thiosulfate after St-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (GIPS-IV) trial.

Background: Ischemia and subsequent reperfusion cause myocardial injury in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Hydrogen sulfide (HS) reduces "ischemia-reperfusion injury" in various experimental animal models, but has not been evaluated in humans. This trial will examine the efficacy and safety of the HS-donor sodium thiosulfate (STS) in patients presenting with a STEMI.