BACKGROUND: Nicorandil is a nicotinamide ester commonly prescribed for treatment of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). In the present study, we aimed to explore the cardioprotective effects of nicorandil on CHD patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred patients with CHD undergoing PCI were randomly divided into a control group (n=48) and a nicorandil group (n=52). Patients in the control group received traditional therapy, and while patients in the nicorandil group received nicorandil before PCI in addition to the traditional therapy. After PCI, all patients underwent coronary angiogram, and TIMI frame count (TFC) was calculated. Plasma levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined before and at 6, 18, and 24 h after PCI. Moreover, systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) were recorded before and 3 months after PCI.

RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the rate of no-reflow (P=0.036) between the 2 groups. The blood frames and levels of cTnI, CK-MB, MPO, and MDA in the nicorandil group were significantly decreased compared to the control group (all P<0.05). Moreover, administration of nicorandil markedly decreased SBP, MBP, and HR, but obviously increased LVEF at 3 months after PCI (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Nicorandil exerts cardioprotective effects on CHD patients undergoing elective PCI by decreasing PCI-related myocardial injury and rate of no-reflow and improvement of LVEF.

Keywords: Coronary Disease, Nicorandil, percutaneous coronary intervention