Transvalvular Ventricular Unloading Before Reperfusion in Acute Myocardial Infarction
Recommended Citation
Swain L, Reyelt L, Bhave S, Qiao X, Thomas CJ, Zweck E, Crowley P, Boggins C, Esposito M, Chin M, Karas RH, O'Neill W, and Kapur NK. Transvalvular Ventricular Unloading Before Reperfusion in Acute Myocardial Infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol 2020; 76(6):684-699.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-11-2020
Publication Title
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Myocardial damage due to acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains a significant global health problem. New approaches to limit myocardial infarct size and reduce progression to heart failure after STEMI are needed. Mechanically reducing left ventricular (LV) workload (LV unloading) before coronary reperfusion is emerging as a potential approach to reduce infarct size.
OBJECTIVES: Given the central importance of mitochondria in reperfusion injury, we hypothesized that compared with immediate reperfusion (IR), LV unloading before reperfusion improves myocardial energy substrate use and preserves mitochondrial structure and function.
METHODS: To explore the effect of LV unloading duration on infarct size, we analyzed data from the STEMI-Door to Unload (STEMI-DTU) trial and then tested the effect of LV unloading on ischemia and reperfusion injury, cardiac metabolism, and mitochondrial function in swine models of acute myocardial infarction.
RESULTS: The duration of LV unloading before reperfusion was inversely associated with infarct size in patients with large anterior STEMI. In preclinical models, LV unloading reduced the expression of hypoxia-sensitive proteins and myocardial damage due to ischemia alone. LV unloading with a transvalvular pump (TV-P) but not with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) reduced infarct size. Using unbiased and blinded metabolic profiling, TV-P improved myocardial energy substrate use and preserved mitochondrial structure including cardiolipin content after reperfusion compared with IR or ECMO. Functional testing in mitochondria isolated from the infarct zone showed an intact mitochondrial structure including cardiolipin content, preserved activity of the electron transport chain including mitochondrial complex I, and reduced oxidative stress with TV-P-supported reperfusion but not with IR or ECMO.
CONCLUSIONS: These novel findings identify that transvalvular unloading limits ischemic injury before reperfusion, improves myocardial energy substrate use, and preserves mitochondrial structure and function after reperfusion.
PubMed ID
32762903
Volume
76
Issue
6
First Page
684
Last Page
699
