Leonardo Dexheimer da Silva, Leonardo Cadorin de Araújo, Eduarda Dexheimer da Silva, Kauã Gabriel Oliveira, Ricardo Fonseca Oliveira Suruagy-Motta, Miguel Rodrigues Moreira, Gabriel Rezende Neves, Carlos Alexandre Farias, Leonardo Galvão de Oliveira Oldra, Pedro Antonio Machado Gomes de Sousa, Pedro Augusto Bento de Sousa, Felipe da Silva Ribeiro, Guilherme Sobreira Spina, Kalgi Modi
{"title":"Back to the flow: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of epinephrine in the treatment of no-reflow.","authors":"Leonardo Dexheimer da Silva, Leonardo Cadorin de Araújo, Eduarda Dexheimer da Silva, Kauã Gabriel Oliveira, Ricardo Fonseca Oliveira Suruagy-Motta, Miguel Rodrigues Moreira, Gabriel Rezende Neves, Carlos Alexandre Farias, Leonardo Galvão de Oliveira Oldra, Pedro Antonio Machado Gomes de Sousa, Pedro Augusto Bento de Sousa, Felipe da Silva Ribeiro, Guilherme Sobreira Spina, Kalgi Modi","doi":"10.1097/MCA.0000000000001632","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The no-reflow phenomenon is defined as inadequate microvascular reperfusion despite successful epicardial coronary recanalization, associated with multiple adverse outcomes, occurring in up to 7% of primary PCI. Its multifactorial pathophysiology includes endothelial injury, distal embolization, and vasospasm. Thus, intracoronary epinephrine has shown promising results due to its vascular regulation. Then, this meta-analysis evaluates the role of epinephrine to treat and prevent the no-reflow phenomenon.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following Preferred reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis standards, we systematically searched MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science for studies comparing epinephrine with conventional therapy or other drugs. The primary outcome was thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow. Secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), heart failure, mortality, left ventricular ejection fraction, and myocardial blush grade.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eleven studies (700 epinephrine, 298 control) were included. TIMI flow was assessed using single-arm meta-analyses, stratified into refractory and primary no-reflow. TIMI 3 flow was achieved in 63% of refractory and 86% of primary. Myocardial blush grade 3 was achieved in 47.4% of cases. MACE incidence was 14% in refractory and 18% in primary no-reflow. Compared with conventional treatment, epinephrine reduced MACE risk (risk ratio 0.45; 95% confidence interval: 0.23-0.87; P = 0.01; I2 = 0%) but showed no difference versus adenosine. Heart failure incidence was 11% in controls and 5% in adenosine, without significant comparative differences.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Therefore, intracoronary epinephrine was associated with encouraging but exploratory findings, and the higher success rate in primary no-reflow may reflect earlier intervention and less severe microvascular damage. Its modest advantage over adenosine suggests potential therapeutic value, though evidence remains limited and heterogeneous.</p>","PeriodicalId":10702,"journal":{"name":"Coronary artery disease","volume":" ","pages":"491-502"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Coronary artery disease","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MCA.0000000000001632","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/3/23 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: The no-reflow phenomenon is defined as inadequate microvascular reperfusion despite successful epicardial coronary recanalization, associated with multiple adverse outcomes, occurring in up to 7% of primary PCI. Its multifactorial pathophysiology includes endothelial injury, distal embolization, and vasospasm. Thus, intracoronary epinephrine has shown promising results due to its vascular regulation. Then, this meta-analysis evaluates the role of epinephrine to treat and prevent the no-reflow phenomenon.
Methods: Following Preferred reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis standards, we systematically searched MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science for studies comparing epinephrine with conventional therapy or other drugs. The primary outcome was thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow. Secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), heart failure, mortality, left ventricular ejection fraction, and myocardial blush grade.
Results: Eleven studies (700 epinephrine, 298 control) were included. TIMI flow was assessed using single-arm meta-analyses, stratified into refractory and primary no-reflow. TIMI 3 flow was achieved in 63% of refractory and 86% of primary. Myocardial blush grade 3 was achieved in 47.4% of cases. MACE incidence was 14% in refractory and 18% in primary no-reflow. Compared with conventional treatment, epinephrine reduced MACE risk (risk ratio 0.45; 95% confidence interval: 0.23-0.87; P = 0.01; I2 = 0%) but showed no difference versus adenosine. Heart failure incidence was 11% in controls and 5% in adenosine, without significant comparative differences.
Conclusion: Therefore, intracoronary epinephrine was associated with encouraging but exploratory findings, and the higher success rate in primary no-reflow may reflect earlier intervention and less severe microvascular damage. Its modest advantage over adenosine suggests potential therapeutic value, though evidence remains limited and heterogeneous.
期刊介绍:
Coronary Artery Disease welcomes reports of original research with a clinical emphasis, including observational studies, clinical trials, translational research, novel imaging, pharmacology and interventional approaches as well as advances in laboratory research that contribute to the understanding of coronary artery disease. Each issue of Coronary Artery Disease is divided into four areas of focus: Original Research articles, Review in Depth articles by leading experts in the field, Editorials and Images in Coronary Artery Disease. The Editorials will comment on selected original research published in each issue of Coronary Artery Disease, as well as highlight controversies in coronary artery disease understanding and management.
Submitted artcles undergo a preliminary review by the editor. Some articles may be returned to authors without further consideration. Those being considered for publication will undergo further assessment and peer-review by the editors and those invited to do so from a reviewer pool.