A stent or other implantable medical device for the local delivery of a selective adenosine receptor agonist may be utilized to reduce myocardial injury following an acute myocardial infarction. As soon as possible following an acute myocardial infarction a stent or other suitable device comprising and capable of delivering a selective adenosine receptor agonist is positioned in the blood vessel with the occlusion responsible for causing the infarct. Once in position , the stent or other intraluminal device is deployed to remove the occlusion and reestablish blood flow to the specific area, region or tissue volume of the heart. Over a given period of time the selective adenosine receptor agonist elutes from the stent or other device into the downstream coronary blood flow into the hypoxic cardiac tissue for a time sufficient to reduce the level of myocardial injury.
