Gradual Onset of Myocardial Ischemia Results in Reduced Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the downregulation of myocardial metabolism with gradually decreased flow to severe levels results in reduced myocardial injury for a given period of low flow. We propose that the rate at which blood flow decreases with myocardial underperfusion is a novel determinant of infarct injury. This may have clinical implication in situations in which there is a time-dependent component to the decrease in coronary blood flow in acute ischemic events, ie, thrombus formation at a site or coronary stenosis.