The beneficial effect of insulin, glucose, and dipyridamole on regional left ventricular function early after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: High-dose glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) solution has beneficial effects on reducing mortality in acute myocardial infarction. Dipyridamole (DIP) is a powerful antioxidant and increases adenosine concentration. Experimentally, GIK and DIP have additive protective effects in ischemia-reperfusion injury. Aim: This work aims to assess the acute effects of DIP alone, GIK alone, and GIK+DIP on left ventricular function in patients evaluated early after an acute myocardial infarction. Methods: Ten male patients (age 63±11 years) with uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction were evaluated within 3 days after admission. All had been treated with systemic thrombolysis and were on full therapy (including beta-blockers) at the time of testing. They underwent stress echocardiography [2D echo, with wall motion score index (WMSI) evaluated in a 16-segment model of the left ventricle, with each segment scored from 1=normal to 4=dyskinetic] during low-dose DIP alone (0.28 mg/kg in 4 min); GIK alone (4-h infusion of glucose 30%, 25 insulin units, and 40 mEq of KCl, at an infusion rate of 1.5 ml/kg/h); and GIK+DIP. Results: Regional systolic function (baseline WMSI=1.69±0.2) improved after DIP (1.54±0.1), GIK (1.54±0.1), and, to a greater extent, after GIK+DIP (1.33±0.2; p<0.001 vs. baseline; p<0.05 vs. DIP; p<0.05 vs. GIK). Conclusion: High-dose GIK has an acute beneficial effect on regional left ventricular function in patients with acute myocardial infarction. This beneficial effect is potentiated by low-dose DIP coadministration