Study on oxidative stress and antioxidant level in patients of acute myocardial infarction before and after regular treatment.

In acute myocardial infarction (AMI), lack of oxygen delivery to myocardium leads to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which play an important role in the pathogenesis of AMI. Endogenous anti-oxidants protect the myocardial tissues from the deleterious effect of free radical mediate injury. The study evaluates the extent of oxidative stress and antioxidant status against ROS in AMI patients and amelioration of oxidative stress after regular treatment and also assesses the association between oxidative stress and risk factors for atherosclerosis like dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus (DM). The study was conducted on 72 AMI patients and age and sex matched 18 healthy controls. Patients were assigned to four groups, AMI without dyslipidemia or DM, with dyslipidemia, with DM and with both dyslipidemia and DM. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and GSH content and vitamin E levels were determined on admission into hospital and on the 5th day of treatment. Plasma MDA level increased significantly (p < 0.001) and erythrocyte GSH and plasma vitamin E levels were decreased (p < 0.001) in all the groups of patients as compared to control. On the 50th day of regular treatment MDA level reduced (p < 0.001) and GSH and vitamin E levels increased (p < 0.001) in patients. The plasma MDA level was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with both dyslipidemia and DM or with only DM in comparison to patients without dyslipidemia and DM. The difference in the GSH level between patients with risk factors and without risk factors was not significant. It may be conclude that an imbalance exists between oxidant and antioxidant molecules in AMI patients which shift towards oxidative side and regular treatment restores this balance. There may be some association between oxidative stress in AMI and risk factors like dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus.