Opioid receptor agonists to prevent heart reperfusion injury: analysis of experimental and clinical data

In Russia, in-hospital lethality after acute myocardial infarction is 13.8%. The part of patients perishes even after recanalization of the infarct-related coronary artery as a result of myocardial reperfusion injury. Experimental data indicate that opioid receptor agonists can prevent reperfusion damage of the heart mimicking postconditioning phenomena. Agonists of k 1-and δ 2-opioid receptors exhibit the most pronounced infarct-limiting effects. Clinical data indicate that morphine is able to prevent cardiac reperfusion injury in humans. Therefore, the analysis of published data suggests that opioid receptor agonists can be prototype for development of drugs for prophylaxis of reperfusion heart injury.