Clinical efforts to reduce myocardial infarct size--the next step.

Prompt myocardial reperfusion reduces infarct size in patients experiencing coronary occlusion. However, its clinical value is limited because reperfusion also causes ischemic myocardial reperfusion injury (IMRI). Considerable research to reduce IMRI has been conducted. Three interventions appear to be promising: 1) myocardial conditioning, which consists of repetitive occlusions of coronary or other arteries prior to or at the time of myocardial reperfusion; 2) the administration of cyclosporine A; and 3) the administration of adenosine. A plan for the testing of these interventions in patients with acute myocardial infarction is described.