Abstract

Objective: To compare the effects of nicorandil (a hybrid ATP sensitive potassium channel (K⁺_ATP channel) opener/nitric oxide donor) with those of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) on myocardial microcirculation and cardiac function in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who had undergone reperfusion treatment by direct balloon angioplasty.

Design: Double blind randomised study.

Patients: 60 patients with AMI in Killip class I.

Interventions: Patients were assigned into two treatment groups: a nicorandil group (n  =  30) and an ISDN group (n  =  30). Each drug was infused intravenously at 6 mg/h for 72 hours starting at admission and was administered directly to the treated coronary artery immediately after angioplasty.

Results: Compared with ISDN, nicorandil more frequently caused recovery of ST segment elevation just after reperfusion (15 of 27 (55.5%) in the nicorandil group v 5 of 26 (19.2%) in the ISDN group, p  =  0.006). The nicorandil group had higher values of averaged peak velocity 40 minutes after reperfusion (mean (SD) 24.8 (13.3) cm/s v 16.0 (11.1) cm/s, p  =  0.045) and higher values of regional wall motion of the infarcted area three weeks after onset of AMI (–1.78 (1.11) v –2.50 (1.04) SD/chord, p  =  0.046).

Conclusions: A combination of nicorandil drip infusion starting before reperfusion and intracoronary injection immediately after reperfusion is more effective than a similarly performed infusion of ISDN in preserving myocardial microcirculation in the reperfused AMI area. The nicorandil regimen resulted in better left ventricular regional wall motion.