Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury following Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Critical Issue for Clinicians and Forensic Pathologists

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Reperfusion strategies are the current standard therapy for AMI. However, they may result in paradoxical cardiomyocyte dysfunction, known as ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI). Different forms of IRI are recognized, of w...

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Main Authors: Margherita Neri, Irene Riezzo, Natascha Pascale, Cristoforo Pomara, Emanuela Turillazzi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Mediators of Inflammation
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7018393
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author Margherita Neri
Irene Riezzo
Natascha Pascale
Cristoforo Pomara
Emanuela Turillazzi
author_facet Margherita Neri
Irene Riezzo
Natascha Pascale
Cristoforo Pomara
Emanuela Turillazzi
author_sort Margherita Neri
collection DOAJ
description Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Reperfusion strategies are the current standard therapy for AMI. However, they may result in paradoxical cardiomyocyte dysfunction, known as ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI). Different forms of IRI are recognized, of which only the first two are reversible: reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, myocardial stunning, microvascular obstruction, and lethal myocardial reperfusion injury. Sudden death is the most common pattern for ischemia-induced lethal ventricular arrhythmias during AMI. The exact mechanisms of IRI are not fully known. Molecular, cellular, and tissue alterations such as cell death, inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and oxidative stress are considered to be of paramount importance in IRI. However, comprehension of the exact pathophysiological mechanisms remains a challenge for clinicians. Furthermore, myocardial IRI is a critical issue also for forensic pathologists since sudden death may occur despite timely reperfusion following AMI, that is one of the most frequently litigated areas of cardiology practice. In this paper we explore the literature regarding the pathophysiology of myocardial IRI, focusing on the possible role of the calpain system, oxidative-nitrosative stress, and matrix metalloproteinases and aiming to foster knowledge of IRI pathophysiology also in terms of medicolegal understanding of sudden deaths following AMI.
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spelling doaj-art-add0ebc71c5045b48cb16e9875b9c5cc2025-08-20T03:39:41ZengWileyMediators of Inflammation0962-93511466-18612017-01-01201710.1155/2017/70183937018393Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury following Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Critical Issue for Clinicians and Forensic PathologistsMargherita Neri0Irene Riezzo1Natascha Pascale2Cristoforo Pomara3Emanuela Turillazzi4Section of Forensic Pathology, Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine Department, University of Ferrara, Ospedale “Sant’Anna”, Via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, ItalySection of Forensic Pathology, Clinical and Experimental Medicine Department, University of Foggia, Ospedale Colonnello D’Avanzo, Viale Degli Aviatori 1, 71100 Foggia, ItalySection of Forensic Pathology, Clinical and Experimental Medicine Department, University of Foggia, Ospedale Colonnello D’Avanzo, Viale Degli Aviatori 1, 71100 Foggia, ItalySection of Forensic Pathology, Clinical and Experimental Medicine Department, University of Foggia, Ospedale Colonnello D’Avanzo, Viale Degli Aviatori 1, 71100 Foggia, ItalySection of Forensic Pathology, Clinical and Experimental Medicine Department, University of Foggia, Ospedale Colonnello D’Avanzo, Viale Degli Aviatori 1, 71100 Foggia, ItalyAcute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Reperfusion strategies are the current standard therapy for AMI. However, they may result in paradoxical cardiomyocyte dysfunction, known as ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI). Different forms of IRI are recognized, of which only the first two are reversible: reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, myocardial stunning, microvascular obstruction, and lethal myocardial reperfusion injury. Sudden death is the most common pattern for ischemia-induced lethal ventricular arrhythmias during AMI. The exact mechanisms of IRI are not fully known. Molecular, cellular, and tissue alterations such as cell death, inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and oxidative stress are considered to be of paramount importance in IRI. However, comprehension of the exact pathophysiological mechanisms remains a challenge for clinicians. Furthermore, myocardial IRI is a critical issue also for forensic pathologists since sudden death may occur despite timely reperfusion following AMI, that is one of the most frequently litigated areas of cardiology practice. In this paper we explore the literature regarding the pathophysiology of myocardial IRI, focusing on the possible role of the calpain system, oxidative-nitrosative stress, and matrix metalloproteinases and aiming to foster knowledge of IRI pathophysiology also in terms of medicolegal understanding of sudden deaths following AMI.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7018393
spellingShingle Margherita Neri
Irene Riezzo
Natascha Pascale
Cristoforo Pomara
Emanuela Turillazzi
Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury following Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Critical Issue for Clinicians and Forensic Pathologists
Mediators of Inflammation
title Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury following Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Critical Issue for Clinicians and Forensic Pathologists
title_full Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury following Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Critical Issue for Clinicians and Forensic Pathologists
title_fullStr Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury following Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Critical Issue for Clinicians and Forensic Pathologists
title_full_unstemmed Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury following Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Critical Issue for Clinicians and Forensic Pathologists
title_short Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury following Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Critical Issue for Clinicians and Forensic Pathologists
title_sort ischemia reperfusion injury following acute myocardial infarction a critical issue for clinicians and forensic pathologists
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/7018393
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