Open AccessPathophysiologic bases for adjunctive therapies in the treatment and secondary prevention of acute myocardial infarction
Author(s) -
Gutstein David E.,
Fuster Valentin
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960210305
Subject(s) - medicine , myocardial infarction , pathophysiology , intensive care medicine , adjunctive treatment , cardiology
Postmyocardial infarction (MI) survival has been steadily improving. This improvement has been due, in part, to the actions of the adjunctive medical therapies for the treatment of MI. Aspirin, beta blockers, angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and lipid‐lowering agents have been shown to improve survival in the treatment and secondary prevention of MI. Nitrates have beneficial effects as well. These medications complement the reperfusion strategies through different mechanisms. Other adjunctive medical therapies, namely magnesium, antiarrhythmic agents, and calcium‐channel blockers, have not been shown to improve mortality with routine post‐MI use despite their theoretical benefits.