New strategies for the management of no-reflow after primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2011 May;9(5):615-30. doi: 10.1586/erc.11.49.

Abstract

The myocardial no-reflow phenomenon is characterized by a reduced antegrade myocardial blood flow despite an open infarct-related artery in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Importantly, no-reflow is known to be associated with unfavorable clinical outcome and prognosis. It is a complex phenomenon and is caused by the variable combination of four pathogenetic components: distal atherothrombotic embolization, ischemic injury, reperfusion injury and susceptibility of coronary microcirculation to injury. As a consequence, appropriate strategies to prevent or treat each of these components are expected to reduce the occurrence of no-reflow. Mechanical and pharmacological approaches performed before, during and after performing myocardial revascularization have been investigated in recent studies, in order to reduce the rate of no-reflow. In this article, we concentrate on the major preventive and therapeutic approaches currently available for the management of the no-reflow phenomenon.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cardiac Catheterization / methods
  • Coronary Vessels / injuries
  • Coronary Vessels / physiopathology
  • Embolism / prevention & control
  • Embolism / therapy
  • Endovascular Procedures*
  • Humans
  • Microcirculation
  • Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
  • Myocardial Infarction / therapy*
  • Myocardial Ischemia / prevention & control
  • Myocardial Ischemia / therapy
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / prevention & control
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / therapy
  • Myocardial Revascularization*
  • No-Reflow Phenomenon / physiopathology
  • No-Reflow Phenomenon / prevention & control*
  • No-Reflow Phenomenon / therapy*