Objective:
Platelets activated during experimental acute myocardial infarction (AMI) contribute to myocardial injury. We aimed to investigate whether platelets from patients with AMI increase myocardial damage after transient ischemia in isolated rat hearts and the modification of this effect by the P2Y
12
receptor antagonist cangrelor and the GPIIb/IIIa receptor blocker abciximab.
Methods:
Platelets were obtained from 9 AMI patients (7 thrombolyzed, all on aspirin) within 24 h after symptom onset. Incubation with 100 μM cangrelor or 50 μg/ml abciximab resulted, respectively, in 78 ± 4 and 90 ± 2% inhibition of aggregation (optical aggregometry). Isolated rat hearts (four simultaneous experiments per patient) were subjected to 40 min of global ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion. Hearts received no additional intervention (Control) or were infused during the 5 min prior to ischemia with platelets (22.5x10
6
/min), either untreated or treated with cangrelor or abciximab.
Results:
P-selectin expression (flow cytometry) in isolated platelets before infusion was 31 ± 3% (P = NS between groups). Platelets augmented myocardial injury, as demonstrated by worse left ventricular developed pressure (LVDevP), higher left ventricular enddiastolic pressure (LVEDP) and coronary resistance, and greater LDH release and infarct size (TTC staining), and both cangrelor and abciximab greatly attenuated these effects (Table
).
Conclusions:
Activated platelets from patients with AMI increase myocardial injury after ischemia and reperfusion, and cangrelor and abciximab attenuate this effect. The results support the notion that very early antiplatelet treatment may increase myocardial salvage by direct effects on the microcirculation in these patients.