Management of acute myocardial infarction with natural physiological agents

Abstract

A number of natural physiological agents deserve evaluation in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Prostacyclin and magnesium dilate large coronary arteries and could promote collateral circulation to ischemic regions, especially if used in conjunction with α-agonists to prevent a drop in coronary perfusion pressure. In addition, prostacyclin has anti-aggregatory and de-aggregatory effects on platelets and a stabilizing action on hypoxic tissue, while magnesium has anti-arrhythmic, potassium-retaining, and fibrinolytic effects, all of which could improve the outcome in acute MI. Adenosine or ribose infusion could be used to promote rapid repletion of adenine nucleotides in reperfused tissue, but unfortunately arteriolar vasodilation by adenosine might reduce collateral perfusion by “coronary steal”. Highdose insulin has positive-inotropic (at minimal oxygen cost) and potent anti-arrhythmic actions that have not been adequately tested in previous clinical trials of “polarizing solutions”. Carnitine infusion could improve the bioenergetics of ischemic myocardium by relieving inhibition of mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocase.