Gliucose-insulin-potassium and reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction: Rationale and design of the glucose insulin-potassium study-2 (GIPS-2)

Background The combination of reperfusion therapy and high-dose glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) infusion seems beneficial in acute myocardial infarction (MI). Current evidence, however, is not considered conclusive.

Study Design The Glucose-Insulin-Potassium Study-2 (GIPS-2) will investigate whether GIK, in adjunction to reperfusion therapy, is beneficial in MI patients without signs of heart failure at admission. A total of at least 1044 patients with an acute MI treated with either thrombolysis or primary percutaneous coronary intervention will be randomized to an infusion of high-dose GIK or no infusion. The primary end point of the study is 30-day mortality. Secondary end points are mortality at 1 year, recurrence of MI, repeat intervention, and infarct size.

Implications If high-dose GIK significantly reduces mortality at 30 days in all patients, the adjunction of this treatment to reperfusion therapy may become part of standard regimen for patients with acute MI without heart failure.