Objectives: To investigate current evidence linking ischemic postconditioning (IPC) to cardioprotection in patients receiving primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: We performed searches of PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE and Cochrane databases from January 1998 to May 2011 for identifying relevant studies comparing IPC with usual care in patients undergoing primary PCI. A meta-analysis of eligible studies was assessed by Review Manager 5.0. Results: Thirteen studies were eligible. Compared to the control, observed outcomes such as peak creatine kinase [weighted mean difference (WMD) –537.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) –779.32 to –295.65 IU/l], peak creatine kinase-myocardial band (WMD –61.11, 95% CI –76.56 to –45.66 U/l), complete ST-segment resolution (risk ratio 1.38, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.77), blush grade during reflow (WMD 0.64, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.78), corrected TIMI frame count, single-photon emission computed tomography determining infarct size, long-term left ventricular ejection fraction and short-term and long-term wall motion score indexes were improved in IPC group, with less occurrence of heart failure during the 3-month to 3.4-year follow-up. Conclusions: Though current evidence indicates that IPC provides potential cardioprotection to patients receiving primary PCI, larger adequately powered studies should be undertaken to confirm its advantages.

Keywords:
Percutaneous coronary intervention, Ischemic postconditioning, Acute myocardial infarction
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2012
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