Letter by Opie and Selker Regarding Article, “Reperfusion Starts in the Ambulance”

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HomeCirculationVol. 114, No. 24Letter by Opie and Selker Regarding Article, “Reperfusion Starts in the Ambulance” Free AccessLetterPDF/EPUBAboutView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyReddit Jump toFree AccessLetterPDF/EPUBLetter by Opie and Selker Regarding Article, “Reperfusion Starts in the Ambulance” Lionel H. Opie Harry Selker Lionel H. OpieLionel H. Opie Hatter Heart Research Institute, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Search for more papers by this author Harry SelkerHarry Selker Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass Search for more papers by this author Originally published12 Dec 2006https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.644179Circulation. 2006;114:e640To the Editor:Verheugt1 argues, with strong reasons, that reperfusion therapy should start in the ambulance. However, reperfusion brings with it reperfusion injury, resulting both from reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a metabolic mechanism, a rise in cytosolic calcium with cell contracture. “Reperfusion injury” is a euphemism for cell death, which occurs at least in part through ATP-requiring apoptosis triggered by ROS and calcium.2 That such reperfusion-induced cell death also occurs in the reperfused human acute myocardial infarction is strongly suggested by the recent study of Staat et al,3 who reduced enzyme release by about one third in ST-elevation myocardial infarction by mechanical postconditioning. The latter process can only be applied at the time of PCI, not in the ambulance, thus leaving the persistent risk of reperfusion-induced cell death.It is time to take this understanding to the ambulance as well. The principles of antiapoptotic therapy that can be applied at reperfusion include decreased cytosolic calcium levels that can be achieved by increased provision of glucose-mediated generation of glycolytic ATP. Early in reperfusion, excessive use of fatty acids inhibits glycolysis and glucose oxidation. Conversely, insulin decreases the adverse effects of free fatty acids,4 which are high during early reperfusion, thereby promoting glucose oxidation. Hence, it would be logical to test provision of insulin at the time of reperfusion. An even more cogent reason for giving insulin at reperfusion is that it stimulates the protective signaling paths that activate the key signaling molecule Akt to promote cell survival and powerfully to lessen apoptosis. Jonassen et al5 have shown that insulin must be given at the time of reperfusion, or within 15 minutes thereof, to protect and decrease experimental infarct size. Testing this hypothesis in the ambulance would require a trial specifically designed to give reperfusion covered by insulin with glucose added to prevent hypoglycemia, also given in the ambulance. If reperfusion only occurred later, the same need for insulin coverage would hold. The earlier insulin is started, the better, because some spontaneous reperfusion is possible during the early stages when the thrombus might be forming with some breakdown. A major clinical trial to test such metabolic therapy at reperfusion could theoretically aim to reduce infarct size by one third, thus having a major impact on mortality and subsequent development of heart failure. It is possible that reperfusion should start in the ambulance, just after starting myocardial metabolic support.DisclosuresDr Selker received financial support from the NHLBI as the study chair for the IMMEDIATE study. References 1 Verheugt FW. Reperfusion therapy starts in the ambulance. Circulation. 2006; 113: 2377–2379.LinkGoogle Scholar2 Piper HM, Kasseckert S, Abdullah Y. The sarcoplasmic reticulum as the primary target of rerperfusion injury. Cardiovasc Res. 2006; 70: 170–173.CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3 Staat P, Rioufol G, Piot C, Cottin Y, Cung TT, L’Huillier I, Aupetit JF, Bonnefoy E, Finet G, Andre-Fouet X, Ovize M. Postconditioning the human heart. Circulation. 2005; 112: 2143–2148.LinkGoogle Scholar4 Folmes CD, Clanachan AS, Lopaschuk GD. Fatty acids attenuate insulin regulation of 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase and insulin cardioprotection after ischemia. Circ Res. 2006; 99: 61–68.LinkGoogle Scholar5 Jonassen AK, Sack MN, Mjos OD, Yellon DM. Myocardial protection by insulin at reperfusion requires early administration and is mediated via Akt and p70s6 kinase cell-survival signaling. Circ Res. 2001; 89: 1191–1198.CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Previous Back to top Next FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited By de Miranda D, de Oliveira Faria G, Hermidorff M, dos Santos Silva F, de Assis L and Isoldi M Pre- and Post-Conditioning of the Heart: An Overview of Cardioprotective Signaling Pathways, Current Vascular Pharmacology, 10.2174/1570161119666201120160619, 19:5, (499-524) December 12, 2006Vol 114, Issue 24 Advertisement Article InformationMetrics https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.644179PMID: 17159068 Originally publishedDecember 12, 2006 PDF download Advertisement SubjectsCatheter-Based Coronary and Valvular InterventionsCell Signaling/Signal TransductionMyocardial Biology