Verapamil reverses myocardial no-reflow after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Cell Biochem Biophys. 2013;67(3):911-4. doi: 10.1007/s12013-013-9581-0.

Abstract

The present study evaluated the efficacy of intracoronary administration of verapamil to attenuate the no-reflow phenomenon following the primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with the ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). A total of 201 patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI within 12 h from the beginning of the heart attack were included. The no-reflow phenomenon was defined as substantial coronary anterograde flow of TIMI ≤2. Verapamil (100-200 μg) was injected into coronary artery immediately after no-reflow; the coronary arteriography was repeated later. Hundred and ninety-eight patients with STEMI successfully underwent primary PCI, and 246 stents were implanted with the average of 1.2 stents per patient. No-reflow occurred in 25 out of 198 patients (12.6%). Twenty-one (84%) patients developed the flow of TIMI ≥3 after intracoronary administration of verapamil, as revealed by repeated coronary angiography. Two patients developed transient hypotension which normalized without treatment within 3-5 min. Three patients showed sinus bradycardia, in one patient there was transient II sinoatrial block, and one patient developed type 1 atrioventricular block. All adverse effects were alleviated after intravenous injection of atropine (0.5-1 mg). In conclusion, the no-reflow phenomenon following primary PCI in patients with STEMI is significantly improved by intracoronary administration of verapamil which is useful to reduce cardiovascular events during operation.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Atropine / therapeutic use
  • Bradycardia / etiology
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypotension / etiology
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / surgery*
  • No-Reflow Phenomenon / drug therapy*
  • No-Reflow Phenomenon / epidemiology
  • No-Reflow Phenomenon / etiology
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / adverse effects*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stents
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasodilator Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Vasodilator Agents / adverse effects
  • Verapamil / administration & dosage*
  • Verapamil / adverse effects

Substances

  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Atropine
  • Verapamil