Fig. 3.

Plasma troponin levels were measured before the induction of ischemia-reperfusion (IR; baseline), after 90 min of coronary occlusion, up to 2 h post-IR, and at terminal study at 28 days post-IR. As expected, plasma troponin I levels were nominally detectable using this high-sensitivity assay at baseline and after 90 min of coronary balloon occlusion (no reperfusion) but surged with release of the intracoronary balloon and institution of reperfusion. Plasma troponin I levels were equivalent to baseline values at 28 days post-IR. Whereas plasma troponin I levels were increased at 100–120 min compared with baseline values (bar: P < 0.05), there were no differences in these values between groups. IR-saline, intracoronary infusion of 3 ml of saline during the final 4 min of balloon occlusion; IR-rTIMP-3, intracoronary infusion of 30 mg recombinant tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (rTIMP-3) contained within 3 ml of saline during the final 4 min of balloon occlusion (IR-saline, n = 8; IR-rTIMP-3, n = 9).