Nitric Oxide Inhalation Improves Microvascular Flow and Decreases Infarction Size After Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion

Nitric Oxide Inhalation Improves Microvascular Flow and Decreases Infarction Size After Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion Xiaoshun Liu, Yanming Huang, Peter Pokreisz, Pieter Vermeersch, Glenn Marsboom, Marc Swinnen, Eric Verbeken, Jose Santos, Marijke Pellens, Hilde Gillijns, Frans Van de Werf, Kenneth D. Bloch, Stefan Janssens This study tested whether or not inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) could improve microvascular perfusion and decrease tissue injury in a porcine model if myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Pigs were treated with a saline infusion (n = 14), intravenous nitroglycerin at 2 μg/kg/min (n = 11), or iNO at 80 parts per million (n = 12), beginning 10 min before the end of a 50-min LAD balloon occlusion period and continuing throughout a 4-h reperfusion period. Inhalation of NO significantly improves microvascular perfusion, decreases leukocyte activation and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and reduces infarct size, and may offer an attractive and novel treatment of myocardial infarction.