Effect of Intracoronary N-Acetylcysteine in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Plain-language summary

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the gold standard for reperfusion therapy in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), as it restores blood flow by clearing the blocked coronary artery. This process helps reoxygenate the previously hypoxic myocardium, potentially preventing further myocardial cell death. However, despite its benefits, reperfusion therapy, including primary PCI, can also lead to reperfusion injury, which may worsen myocardial damage, increase infarct size, and negatively impact patient outcomes. One of the key contributors to reperfusion injury is reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can induce oncosis, necrosis, and apoptosis, ultimately promoting cell death, myocardial remodeling, left ventricular systolic dysfunction and poorer clinical outcomes. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), widely known for its mucolytic properties, has also been recognized for its antioxidant and cardioprotective effects. By reducing oxidative stress, NAC has been shown to decrease oncosis, necrosis, and apoptosis, as evidenced by lower levels of malondialdehyde, IL-6, troponin, caspase-3, and major adverse cardiac events in STEMI patients. However, existing research on NAC has only explored oral and intravenous administration. Given that reperfusion injury occurs rapidly, an optimal approach would involve delivering cardioprotective agents directly to the target site, specifically coronary artery endothelial cells. To date, no studies have directly investigated the effects of intracoronary NAC administration in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

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