Remote ischemic conditioning: Evolution of the concept, mechanisms, and clinical application

Abstract

Remote ischemic conditioning is a novel concept of protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Brief controlled episodes of intermittent ischemia of the arm or leg may confer a powerful systemic protection against prolonged ischemia in a distant organ. This conditioning phenomenon is clinically applicable and can be performed before - preconditioning, during - perconditioning, or after - postconditioning prolonged distant organ ischemia. The remote ischemic conditioning may have an immense impact on clinical practice in the near future. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.