Effect of remote ischemic postconditioning on left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND: Ischemic conditioning may help patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to limit ventricular remodeling. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPC) on left ventricular function during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in patients with STEMI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pre- and post-test intervention study with a total of 60 STEMI patients. Patients were divided in two groups: with and without RIPC. RESULTS: During the 6-month follow-up, a significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction was observed in patients who underwent PPCI, which was higher in the group with RIPC in comparison with the group without RIPC: 1.0% (-1.0 to 4.3) vs. -1.0% (-4.0 to 1.3), p = 0.033. In addition, at 6-month measurement, left ventricular end-systolic volume in patients without RIPC was higher in comparison with their counterparts: 79.3 ± 30.5 mL vs. 64.4 ± 21.4 mL, p = 0.032. CONCLUSIONS: RIPC shows favorable effects on left ventricular function and, therefore, in the future, it could be a potential cardioprotective strategy against ischemia-reperfusion injury in STEMI patients.