Sustained nicorandil administration reduces the infarct size in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients with primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Efficacy of Nicorandil in Preventing Myocardial Injury and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a common procedure for treating coronary artery disease, but it carries a risk of periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI). This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of nicorandil, a hybrid compound with nitrate-like and potassium channel-opening properties, in preventing PMI during PCI. A comprehensive literature search identified 14 studies involving 1,762 patients, with 882 receiving nicorandil and 880 in the control group. The analysis revealed that nicorandil significantly reduced the incidence of PMI (RR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.61-0.86) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58-0.99) compared to the control group. Nicorandil's cardioprotective effects are attributed to its ability to improve coronary blood flow, precondition the myocardium, and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. These findings suggest that nicorandil could be a valuable adjunctive therapy during PCI, potentially improving patient outcomes. However, the study had limitations, including variations in drug administration methods and a lack of individual-level data for subgroup analysis. Future research should focus on optimizing dosing regimens and administration timing and comparing nicorandil's effectiveness with other cardioprotective agents.

Ultrasound‑targeted microbubble destruction technology delivering β‑klotho to the heart enhances FGF21 sensitivity and attenuates heart remodeling post‑myocardial infarction

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)21 is a peptide hormone that improves mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, and the deficiency of its co‑receptor β‑klotho (KLB) causes decreased FGF21 sensitivity. The present study examined whether the cardiac delivery of plasmids containing the KLB gene via ultrasound‑targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) enhances the efficacy of FGF21 against heart failure post‑acute myocardial infarction (AMI). For this purpose, the levels of FGF21 in patients and rats with heart dysfunction post‑infarction were determined using ELISA. Sprague‑Dawley rats received the 3X UTMD‑mediated delivery of KLB@cationic microbubbles (KLB@CMBs) 1 week following the induction of AMI. Echocardiography, histopathology and biochemical analysis were performed at 4 weeks following the induction of AMI. The results revealed that patients with heart failure post‑infarction had higher serum FGF21 levels than the healthy controls. However, the downstream signal, KLB, but not α‑klotho, was reduced in the heart tissues of rats with AMI. As was expected, treatment with FGF21 did not substantially attenuate heart remodeling post‑infarction. It was found that decreased receptors KLB in the heart may result in the insensitivity to FGF21 treatment. In vivo, the UTMD technology‑mediated delivery of KLB@CMBs to the heart significantly enhanced the effects of FGF21 administration on cardiac remodeling and mitochondrial dysfunction in the rats following infarction. The delivery of KLB to the heart by UTMD and the administration of FGF21 attenuated mitochondrial impairment and oxidative stress by activating nuclear factor erythroid 2‑related factor 2 signals. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the cardiac delivery of KLB significantly optimizes the cardioprotective effects of FGF21 therapy on adverse heart remodeling. UTMD appears a promising interdisciplinary approach with which to improve heart failure post‑myocardial infarction.

Determinants and Prognoses of Visual-Functional Mismatches After Mechanical Reperfusion in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background

Discordance between the anatomy and physiology of the coronary has important implications for managing patients with stable coronary disease, but its significance in ST-elevation myocardial infarction has not been fully elucidated.

Methods

The retrospective study involved patients diagnosed with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), along with quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) and quantitative flow ratio (QFR) assessments. Patients were stratified into four groups regarding the severity of the culprit vessel, both visually and functionally: concordantly negative (QCA-diameter stenosis [DS] ≤ 50% and QFR > 0.80), mismatch (QCA-DS > 50% and QFR > 0.80), reverse mismatch (QCA-DS ≤ 50% and QFR ≤ 0.80), and concordantly positive (QCA-DS > 50% and QFR ≤ 0.80). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the clinical factors linked to visual-functional mismatches. Kaplan‒Meier analysis was conducted to estimate the 18-month adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)-free survival between the four groups.

Results

The study involved 310 patients, with 68 presenting visual-functional mismatch, and 51 exhibiting reverse mismatch. The mismatch was associated with higher angiography-derived microcirculatory resistance (AMR) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.016, 95% CI: 1.010-1.022, P<0.001). Reverse mismatch was associated with larger area stenosis (aOR=1.044, 95% CI: 1.004-1.086, P=0.032), lower coronary flow velocity (aOR=0.690, 95% CI: 0.567-0.970, P<0.001) and lower AMR (aOR=0.947, 95% CI: 0.924-0.970, P<0.001). Additionally, the mismatch group showed the worst 18-month MACE-free survival among the four groups (Log rank test p = 0.013).

Conclusion

AMR plays a significant role in the occurrence of visual-functional mismatches between QCA-DS and QFR, and the mismatch group showed the worst prognosis.

Potassium variability during hospitalization and outcomes after discharge in patients with acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

The variability of metabolic biomarkers has been determined to provide incremental prognosis information, but the implications of electrolyte variability remained unclear.

METHODS

We investigate the relationships between electrolyte fluctuation and outcomes in survivors of acute myocardial infarction (n = 4386). Ion variability was calculated as the coefficient of variation, standard deviation, variability independent of the mean (VIM) and range. Hazard ratios (HR) were estimated using the multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional regression method.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 12 months, 161 (3.7%) patients died, and heart failure occurred in 550 (12.5%) participants after discharge, respectively. Compared with the bottom quartile, the highest quartile potassium VIM was associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality (HR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.36-4.06) and heart failure (HR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.01-1.72) independent of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), infarction site, mean potassium and other traditional factors, while those associations across sodium VIM quartiles were insignificant. Similar trend remains across the strata of variability by other three indices. These associations were consistent after excluding patients with any extreme electrolyte value and diuretic use.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher potassium variability but not sodium variability was associated with adverse outcomes post-infarction. Our findings highlight that potassium variability remains a robust risk factor for mortality regardless of clinical dysnatraemia and dyskalaemia.

The Efficacy and Safety of Nicorandil for Periprocedural Myocardial Injury in Patients Undergoing PCI: A Meta-Analysis

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nicorandil for periprocedural myocardial injury in patients undergoing PCI through meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Methods

We analyzed the clinical data of patients including the incidence of periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) from selected articles. RCTs were retrieved from medical literature databases. RR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to compare the endpoints.

Results

In total, 15 articles (16 trial comparisons) were retrieved which contained 2221 patients. In general, 1130 patients (50.9%) were randomized to the experimental group, whereas 1091 patients (49.1%) were randomized to the control group. The result showed that nicorandil significantly reduced the incidence of PMI and MACE after PCI compared to the control group.

Conclusions

Overall, early use of nicorandil in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was associated with a significant reduction of PMI and MACE.

The impact of oral nicorandil pre-treatment on ST resolution and clinical outcome of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary coronary angioplasty: A randomized placebo controlled trial

Introduction: Literature has shown the effects of intravenous/intracoronary nicorandil on increased myocardial salvage in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with mechanical reperfusion. However, the possible cardioprotective effect of oral nicorandil on the clinical outcome prior to primary coronary angioplasty is not well documented. Our aim was to assess the effect of oral nicorandil on primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Methods: A total of 240 patients with acute STEMI undergoing PPCI were randomly assigned to oral nicorandil (Intervention, n=116) and placebo (Control, n=124) groups. The intervention group received 20 mg oral nicorandil at the emergency department and another 20 mg oral nicorandil in the catheterization laboratory just before the procedure. The control group received matched placebo. Our primary outcome was ST-segment resolution ≥50% one hour after primary angioplasty. Secondary outcome was in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of death, ventricular arrhythmia, heart failure and stroke.

Results: In the patients of intervention and control groups, the occurrence of ST-segment resolution ≥ 50% were 68.1% and 62.9% respectively, (P =0.27). In-hospital MACE occurred less frequently in the intervention group, compared to placebo group (11.2% vs. 22.5%, P =0.012).

Conclusion: Although the administration of oral nicorandil before primary coronary angioplasty did not improve ST-segment resolution in patients with acute STEMI, its promoting effects was remarkable on in-hospital clinical outcomes.

Clinical Registration:IRCT20140512017666N1

Effects of intracoronary injection of nicorandil and tirofiban on myocardial perfusion and short-term prognosis in elderly patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after emergency PCI

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the effects of the intracoronary injection of nicorandil and tirofiban on myocardial perfusion and short-term prognosis in elderly patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

Seventy-eight STEMI patients with age >65 years who underwent emergency PCI were consecutively enrolled. These patients received conventional PCI and were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group (n=39 per group). The control group received an intracoronary injection of tirofiban followed by a maintenance infusion for 36 hours after surgery. The treatment group received intracoronary injection of tirofiban and nicorandil, and then intravenous infusion of tirofiban and nicorandil 36 hours after surgery. The following parameters were measured: TIMI grade, corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC), TIMI myocardial perfusion grade (TMPG), ST-segment resolution (STR) rate 2 hours post-operatively, resolution of ST-segment elevation (STR) at 2 hours postoperatively, peak level of serum CK-MB, left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 7-10 days postoperatively, and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in-hospital and within 30 days post-operatively.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, more patients in the treatment group had TIMI 3 and TMPG 3, and STR after PCI was significantly higher. The treatment group also had significantly lower cTFC, lower infarction relative artery (IRA), lower peak CK-MB, and no reflow ratio after PCI. The treatment group had significantly higher LVEDD and LVEF but lower incidence of MACEs than the control group.

CONCLUSION

The intracoronary injection of nicorandil combined with tirofiban can effectively improve myocardial reperfusion in elderly STEMI patients after emergency PCI and improve short-term prognoses.