The cardioprotective effects of cariporide were investigated against myoglobin and troponin I elevation in a model of myocardial infarction in pig, and the possible relationship between these markers and myocardial infarct size. The left circumflex coronary artery was ligated for 60-min and then reperfused for 48-h. Plasma levels of myoglobin and troponin I were quantified during reperfusion. Vehicle or cariporide (2.5 mg/kg) were administered i.v. before ischaemia and infused throughout ischaemia and for the beginning of reperfusion. In vehicle-treated pigs, the infarct size represented 26% +/- 3% of the area at risk. Cariporide significantly decreased the infarct size by 66% +/- 9%, and significantly reduced plasma levels of myoglobin and troponin I. A strongly correlated linear relationship between myocardial necrosis and plasma levels of myoglobin (R = 0.966, P < 0.0001) or troponin I (R = 0.855, P < 0.0001) was clearly identified. In conclusion, in our porcine model of myocardial infarction, even with small infarcts (in the presence of cariporide), plasma levels of myoglobin and troponin I are predictive of the presence of necrosis and its extent.

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