Clinical outcomes of nicorandil administration in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the treatment of choice in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and no-reflow phenomenon is still an unsolved problem. We searched PubMed, EmBase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for relevant randomized controlled trials. The primary endpoint was the incidence of major adverse cardiac events and the secondary endpoint was the incidences of no-reflow phenomenon and complete resolution of ST-segment elevation. Eighteen randomized controlled trials were enrolled. Nicorandil significantly reduced the incidence of no-reflow phenomenon (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.36–0.59; P < 0.001; I2 = 0%) and major adverse cardiac events (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.27–0.64; P < 0.001; I2 = 52%). For every single outcome of major adverse cardiac events, only heart failure and ventricular arrhythmia were significantly improved with no heterogeneity (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.23–0.57, P < 0.001; OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.31–0.60, P < 0.001 respectively). A combination of intracoronary and intravenous nicorandil administration significantly reduced the incidence of major adverse cardiac events with no heterogeneity (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.13–0.43, P < 0.001; I2 = 0%), while a single intravenous administration could not (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.40–1.06, P = 0.09; I2 = 52%). Nicorandil can significantly improve no-reflow phenomenon and major adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The beneficial effects on major adverse cardiac events might be driven by the improvements of heart failure and ventricular arrhythmia. A combination of intracoronary and intravenous administration might be an optimal usage of nicorandil.