title: [Postconditioning: lethal reperfusion injury as a therapeutic target].
abstract: Acute myocardial infarction is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in western countries. Ischemic postconditioning, that consists of repeated brief episodes of ischemia-reperfusion performed just after reflow following a prolonged ischemic insult, dramatically reduces infarct size. Recent data indicate that it might involve the activation of the PI3-kinase-Akt-eNOS signalling pathway and inhibition of the opening of the permeability transition pore. A recent clinical study demonstrated that postconditioning protects the human heart. Further research is needed to find new pharmacological agents that would mimick postconditioning in order to treat all patients with ongoing acute myocardial infarction.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital cardiologique et pneumologique, Louis-Pradel, 59, boulevard Pinel, 69394 Lyon 03, Lyon, France. ovize@sante.univ-lyon1.fr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ovize
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013812:Therapeutics / Q000379:methods