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The effect of insulin on the heart

Part 2: Effects on function during and post myocardial ischaemia

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Abstract

Insulin infusion has been advocated in the treatment of myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction. There is evidence from experimental animal studies for a protective effect of high-dose insulin administration in myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction. In some relatively small study populations a reduction in mortality was reported in those patients who received glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) during myocardial infarction, which was confirmed in two meta-analyses. However, it has not been possible to reproduce these positive results in large randomised clinical trials. (Neth Heart J 2010;18:255-9.)

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Correspondence to L. J. Klein.

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Department of Cardiology, VU Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

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Klein, L.J., Visser, F.C. The effect of insulin on the heart. NHJL 18, 255–259 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03091772

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