No increase of plasma malondialdehyde after primary coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
Free radicals formed after coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion are assumed to produce myocardial stunning and possibly other forms of reperfusion injury as well. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is an end product in the lipid peroxidation chain reaction and is frequently used as a marker for free oxygen radical production. Increased levels of plasma MDA have been found following successful thrombolytic therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether plasma MDA levels also increase after successful primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI).


METHODS
In 23 patients with AMI, treated with primary PTCA, plasma MDA was analysed using a high-performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC). The results obtained with this method were compared with those obtained with a fluorimetric assay of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). This assay measures MDA but with a lower specificity.


RESULTS
We found a significant decrease of plasma MDA from baseline 0.99 to 0.87 micro mol/l at 30 min and to 0.90 micro mol/l at 90 min following the primary PTCA (p = 0.048 and 0.014, respectively). No significant changes in TBARS method levels were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Instead of the expected increase in MDA following reperfusion we found a significant decrease. The results from measurements of MDA and TBARS were significantly incompatible. The results raise serious doubts as to the usefulness of increased plasma levels of MDA as a marker of oxidative stress caused by coronary reperfusion in patients treated with angioplasty.
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Karin Aström
KA
Olsson
Jan
J
Harnek
Ann-Kristin
AK
Ohlin
Natascia
N
Pavlidis
Björn
B
Thorvinger
Hans
H
Ohlin
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013548:Sweden; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis
D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008315:Malondialdehyde