Oxidative Stress and Antioqxidant Status in Unstable Angina Pectoris

This study was performed in order to evaluate, whether an oxidative injury occurred in unstable angina pectoris. The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, an indicator of oxidative injury and the cellular antioxidant, reduced glutathione levels (GSH) and catalase activity were determined in 32 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). Blood samples were obtained at the beginning and, end of the chest pain and 1 hour after the end of the chest pain. The MDA levels that show the lipid peroxidation due to the cellular oxidative injury, was significantly increased in both the end of the chest pain and 1 hour after the end of the chest pain samples, compared with the beginning of the chest pain (>0.05, p<0.001, respectively). The erythrocyte GSH levels were significantly decreased both in the end of the chest pain and 1 hour after the end of the chest pain periods a compared with the beginning of the chest pain (p<0.01).There was no significant change in the catalase activities of the end of the chest pain and 1 hour after the end of the chest pain periods than those of the beginning of the chest pain. In UAP patients, lipid peroxidation, the indicator of cellular injury increased and the antioxidant defence system diminished due to the ischemia, hypoxia and reperpusion of myocardium. These results may be regarded to reflect oxidative injury in UAP patients.