The effect of allopurinol on free oxygen radicals in myocardial reperfusion.

The transmyocardial turnover of lactate, oxidized and reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde, and the isoenzyme CK-MB before and after restoration of myocardial blood flow was studied in 18 patients undergoing coronary artery surgery. Of this number, ten patients were given oral allopurinol preoperatively; the remaining patients made up the control group. Allopurinol significantly reduced the levels of free oxygen radicals. The enzymatic methods employed did not make it possible to evaluate the protective effect of allopurinol on reperfusion myocardial injury.