Preconditioning the human myocardium by simulated ischemia: studies on the early and delayed protection

Abstract

In the isolated human myocardium maximal protection induced by preconditioning is achieved by a total 4-5 min ischemic stimulus, an effect that is lost beyond 2 h of its application. Two windows of protection were identified, the first (< or = 2 h) being more potent than the second (24 h).