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.
