Iloprost (ZK 36374) enhances recovery of regional myocardial function during reperfusion after coronary artery occlusion in the pig.

Ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in open-chest pigs for 20 min caused a complete loss of regional myocardial function, which did not recover during the first two hours of reperfusion. Infusion of the stable prostacyclin analogue Iloprost (100 ng kg-1 min-1) did not prevent the loss of systolic wall function during ischaemia. Recovery of regional myocardial function during the first two hours of reperfusion was enhanced to 40% of baseline by Iloprost. This effect of Iloprost cannot be explained by a decreased O2-demand during ischaemia or an enhanced recovery of myocardial ATP content.