Loss of Preconditioning by Attenuated Activation of Myocardial ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channels in Elderly Patients Undergoing Coronary Angioplasty

Abstract

The present study demonstrates that preconditioning significantly enhances the tolerance of the heart to subsequent ischemia in adults but not in senescent patients. Since prolonged ischemia and nicorandil are able to mimic preconditioning and can reverse impaired responsiveness, impaired preconditioning of the aged heart appears to be due to an attenuated activation of K(ATP) channels.