Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate prevents the adverse left ventricular remodelling: Focus on polymorphonuclear neutrophil‐derived granule components

AIMS: The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) on left ventricular (LV) remodelling after for ST‐elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS AND RESULTS: In this prospective, randomized clinical trial, 101 patients with the ST‐elevated MI (STEMI) and a successful reperfusion were immediately randomized to receive STS (80 mg qd for 7 days) or saline control, along with standard therapy. The primary effectiveness endpoint is the % change in LV end diastolic volumes index (%∆ LVEDVi) as measured by echocardiography from baseline to 6 months. Secondary effectiveness endpoints include 6‐month period for major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including the occurrence of recurrent myocardial infarction, death, hospitalization for heart failure and malignant arrhythmia. The 6‐month changes in %∆ LVEDVi were significantly smaller in the STS group than in the control group [−5.05% vs 3.32%; P < 0.001]. With respect to MACE, there was a significant difference between those who received STS (8.16%) and those patients on control (26.00%) (P = 0.019). Meaningfully, results of parallel tests aimed at mechanistic explanation of the reported clinical effects, revealed a significantly reduced levels of neutrophils‐derived granule components in the blood of STS treated patients. CONCLUSION: We found that short‐term treatment with STS reduced progressive left ventricular remodelling and subsequent better clinical outcome that could be mechanistically linked to the inhibition of the ultimate damage of infarcted myocardium by infiltrating neutrophils.