Myocardial Preconditioning (Medical Intelligence Unit)

This book is about the unique ability of the heart to protect itself against the serious consequences of an abrupt reduction in blood flow to the myocardium - a phenomenon which is switched on by stress and termed myocardial preconditioning. This volume describes the main features and characteristics of preconditioning, with respect to the time-course of the protective effect of the phenomenon (first and second windows) and the different sequelae of myocardial ischaemia against which it protects, such as myocardial injury, arrhythmias and contractile dysfunction. The proposed mechanisms underlying the fascinating form of cardioprotection are discussed. Among these are the role of endogenous labile mediators, receptor-linked G proteins, ATP-sensitive potassium channels and protein kinase C activation. Front Matter....Pages N2-XIII Preconditioning Against Myocardial Infarction—Its Features and Adenosine-Mediated Mechanism....Pages 1-17 Does Preconditioning Reduce Lethal Mechanical Reperfusion Injury?....Pages 19-34 Ischemic Preconditioning Markedly Reduces the Severity of Ischemia and Reperfusion-Induced Arrhythmias: Role of Endogenous Myocardial Protective Substances....Pages 35-60 The Protective Effects of Preconditioning on Postischemic Contractile Dysfunction....Pages 61-78 Reduction of Infarct Size— “Preconditioning at a Distance”....Pages 79-96 Novel Approaches to Myocardial Preconditioning in Pigs....Pages 97-113 Preconditioning in the Human Heart: Fact or Fantasy?....Pages 115-128 Role of ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channels in Myocardial Preconditioning....Pages 129-146 The Role of G Proteins in Myocardial Preconditioning....Pages 147-166 Mimicking Preconditioning with Catecholamines....Pages 167-184 Activation of Protein Kinase C is Critical to the Protection of Preconditioning....Pages 185-206 The Mechanism of Preconditioning—What Have We Learned from the Different Animal Species?....Pages 207-232 Myocardial Stress Response, Cytoprotective Proteins and the Second Window of Protection Against Infarction....Pages 233-250 Delayed Ischemic Preconditioning Induced by Drugs and by Cardiac Pacing....Pages 251-260 Cardioprotective Effects of Chronic Hypoxia: Relation to Preconditioning....Pages 261-275 Back Matter....Pages 277-285