American College of Cardiology

Opioid Receptors Found to Play an Important Role in Ischemic Preconditioning

(Jun. 1, 1999) Some patients with angina appear to develop a form of protection, called ischemic preconditioning, against future heart attacks. Animal studies have demonstrated that opioid receptors may play a role in this protective action, but the presence and function of opioid receptors in the human heart has not been determined—until now. New research provides evidence suggesting that opioid receptors are present in the human heart and that they play an important role in ischemic preconditioning. Opioid receptors are primarily found in the nervous system and are involved in regulating pain and other neural functions. However, researchers are beginning to detect their existence and influence in other areas, such as in the gastrointestinal tract and now the heart. A group of Italian investigators gave either an opioid receptor blocker, naloxone, or placebo to 20 angioplasty patients undergoing repeated balloon inflations, which induce a brief period of ischemia. When compared to their first balloon inflation, placebo-treated patients had fewer abnormal electrocardiogram changes and less chest pain after their second balloon inflation, thereby demonstrating ischemic preconditioning. In contrast, patients who received naloxone had no significant differences in these parameters between their first and second balloon inflations, thus suggesting the role of opioid receptors.

The American College of Cardiology, a 24,000-member nonprofit professional medical society and teaching institution, is dedicated to fostering optimal cardiovascular care and disease prevention through professional education, promotion of research, leadership in the development of standards and guidelines, and the formulation of health care policy.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) provides these news reports of clinical studies published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology as a service to physicians, the media, the public, and other interested parties. However, statements or opinions expressed in these reports reflect the view of the author(s) and do not represent official policy of the ACC unless stated so.

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