Administration of intracoronary adenosine before stenting for the prevention of no-reflow in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Objectives: No-reflow phenomenon during the primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is accompanied by a poor clinical outcome and mortality. We aimed to determine the effect of intracoronary adenosine in preventing the no-reflow phenomenon, as detected by three different methods, in patients who underwent primary (PCI). Design. In this single-blinded randomized controlled trial, patients with acute STEMI who presented to our center and underwent primary PCI were randomized to the intervention group who received intracoronary adenosine before stenting or the control group who received the standard treatment. No-reflow phenomenon was detected using thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade, TIMI frame count, and myocardial blush grade (MBG). The incidence of the no-reflow phenomenon was then compared between the intervention and control groups. Results. The adenosine group consisted of 110 patients (age = 57 +/- 11 years; 92 (84%) male) while 118 patients were in the control group (age = 59 +/- 12 years; 89 (75%) male). There was no difference between the study groups in baseline characteristics. The frequency of no-reflow phenomenon was lower in the adenosine group as assessed by TIMI flow grade (15 [14%] vs. 41 [35%]), MBG (23 [21%] vs. 63 [53%]) and TIMI frame count (16 [14%] vs. 50 [42%]) (p < .001 for all). This effect remained significant after adjustment for confounding variables. Conclusion. Intracoronary adenosine could effectively prevent the no-reflow phenomenon in STEMI patients who underwent primary PCI.