ALPHA-KETOGLUTARATE FOR MYOCARDIAL PROTECTION IN HEART-SURGERY

A low myocardial content of alpha-ketoglutarate during heart surgery m ight aggravate ischaemic injury. 24 men undergoing coronary surgery pa rticipated in a randomised controlled study. 28 g alpha-ketoglutarate was added to blood cardioplegia for intermittent antegrade intracorona ry perfusion in 13 cases. alpha-ketoglutarate reduced the appearance i n blood of the ischaemic markers creatine kinase MB and troponin T (at 4 h after release of aortic cross-clamp; median [95% CI] 49 [37-60] m u g/L in controls vs 32 [27-37] mu g/L for creatine kinase MB, 2.0 [1. 2-2.8] vs 1.1 [0.8-1.4] mu g/L for troponin T). These findings signify attenuated ischaemic injury, possibly secondary to enhanced myocardia l oxidative capacity.