Myocardial protection: the role of the KATP channel

Journal of Clinical and Basic Cardiology 1999; 2 (1): 8-11

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Keywords: KATP-Kanal,  myokardiale Protektion,  Präkonditionierung,  KATP-channel,  myocardial protection,  preconditioning

Ischaemic preconditioning provides powerful protection to the ischaemic myocardium. The clinical problem has always been how to trigger that protection in a non-injurious way. Good evidence now suggests the mitochondrial KATP channel may be the end effector of preconditioning, and this protection can be mimicked by pharmacological opening of the KATP channel in a variety of experimental situations. Clinical data exist that suggest the KATP channel is involved in human preconditioning, but more extensive evidence will be needed before the true potential of preconditioning by KATP openers can be realised. J Clin Basic Cardiol 1999; 2: 8-11.