GLUCOSE-INSULIN-POTASSIUM THERAPY REDUCES COMPLICATIONS IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION - ARGUMENTS AGAINST

Glucose-insulin-potassium therapy has shown its efficacy in diminishin g the myocardial damage under ischemia-reperfusion conditions in exper imental models. This effect appears to be mainly due to the increase o f anaerobic: glycolysis in ischemic cells with a consequent reduction in the use of fatty acids. On the other hand, clinical studies in the acute phase of myocardial infarction are out-dated and almost non-exis tent in the thrombolytic era. The absence of current consistent data m akes it difficult to draw conclusions concerning the real utility of t his therapy in the clinical practice.