IMR Press / RCM / Volume 24 / Issue 12 / DOI: 10.31083/j.rcm2412365
Open Access Review
Pathophysiology and Treatment of the No-Reflow Phenomenon in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Focus on Low-Dose Fibrinolysis during Primary Percutaneous Intervention
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1 Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy
2 Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
3 Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, ‘G. D'Annunzio' University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
4 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy
5 Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy
6 Cardiology Unit, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Department (DICATOV) IRCCS, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
7 Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
8 Division of Clinical Cardiology, A.O.R.N. “Sant'Anna e San Sebastiano”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
9 Division of Cardiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
10 Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
11 Cardiothoracovascular Department, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina (ASUGI), University of Trieste, 34148 Trieste, Italy
12 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
*Correspondence: f.pelliccia@mclink.it (Francesco Pelliccia)
Rev. Cardiovasc. Med. 2023, 24(12), 365; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm2412365
Submitted: 28 May 2023 | Revised: 12 July 2023 | Accepted: 1 August 2023 | Published: 25 December 2023
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the current class I therapeutic approach to treat acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). While primary PCI can restore adequate flow in the infarcted artery in the majority of cases, some patients experience the ‘no-reflow’ phenomenon, i.e., an abnormal myocardial reperfusion occurring even after the occluded coronary artery has been opened. No-reflow occurs when microvascular obstruction arises from embolization of thrombus or components of the atheromatous plaques. These embolic materials travel downstream within the infarct-related artery at time of primary PCI, leading to compromised blood flow. Currently, no expert consensus documents exist to outline an optimal strategy to prevent or treat no-reflow. Interventional cardiologists frequently employ intracoronary adenosine, calcium channel blockers, nicorandil, nitroprusside or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. However, evidence suggests that these interventions consistently enhance myocardial blood flow in only a specific subset of patients experiencing no-reflow. A recent and innovative therapeutic approach gaining attention is low-dose fibrinolysis during primary PCI, which offers the potential to augment coronary flow post-myocardial revascularization.

Keywords
infarct-related artery
microvascular obstruction
no reflow
percutaneous coronary intervention
ST-elevation myocardial infarction
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