Cardioprotective effects of single oral dose of nicorandil before selective percutaneous coronary intervention

Objective: Nicorandil, an opener of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, was used to treat angina in patients with coronary artery disease. In this study, we aim to investigate the cardioprotective effects of single oral dose of nicorandil in patients undergoing selective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: One hundred and thirty-eight patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing PCI from July 2011 to October 2012 were randomly divided into control group (group 1, n=47), 10 mg oral nicorandil group (group 2, n=45), and 20 mg oral nicorandil group (group 3, n=46) about 2 hours before procedure, respectively. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels were determined at 20 similar to 24 hours after PCI. Results: There was a significant difference in the rate of any cTnI elevation among the three groups (group 1: 36.17%, group 2: 20.00%, group 3: 15.22%, p=0.0176). With respect to the frequency of cTnI elevation >= 3 and 5x the upper limit of normal (ULN), there also had statistical difference among the three groups (17.02% in group 1, 8.89% in group 2, and 4.35% in group 3, respectively for cTnI elevation >= 3x ULN, p=0.0428; 12.77% in group 1, 6.67% in group 2, and 2.17% in group 3, respectively, for cTnI elevation >= 5x ULN, p=0.0487). Logistic regression analysis showed that LVEF (OR=0.915, 95% CI=0.853-0.981) and the use of nicorandil (OR=0.516, 95% CI=0.267-0.996) before PCI were independent protective factors of myocardial injury. Conclusion: Single oral dose of nicorandil (10 mg, 20 mg) 2 hours before the PCI procedure could decrease the incidence of peri-procedure myocardial injury and PCI-related myocardial infarction.