Nitroglycerin Infusion in Acute Myocardial Infarction

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Abstract
To the Editor: Maroko et al.1 demonstrated that hyaluronidase administered for 48 hours reduced the extension of electrocardiographic signs of myocardial necrosis. Like hyaluronidase, nitroglycerin accelerated the fall of ST-segment elevations in patients with acute myocardial infarction, suggesting that the extent of myocardial ischemia is decreased.2 , 3 Infusion of nitroglycerin improves left ventricular function in patients with severe left ventricular failure complicating myocardial infarction, but it decreases ST-segment elevations in all patients irrespective of the presence or absence of left ventricular failure.4 These favorable effects on ischemia were demonstrated with nitroglycerin infusion maintained for only a few hours; a longer infusion . . .