The amount and distribution of myocardial lipopigments ('age pigments'
) were studied in alcoholic and control human hearts, to test the hypo
thesis of ethanol-induced long-term oxidative damage in myocardium. Th
e amount of myocardial lipopigments was measured by image analysis in
six men (age 34-60 years) who had a history of chronic alcohol misuse
and who died of acute ethanol intoxication, and in their age-matched,
non-alcoholic controls. Lipopigmentation in the intoxication cases was
33.5 +/- 2.8% (mean +/- SEM) higher compared to the controls in the e
ight myocardial areas studied (P < 0.001). A linear correlation of myo
cardial lipopigmentation with age was noticed in both the intoxication
group (R = 0.894) and the controls (R = 0.927). The amount of lipopig
ments varied largely from one myocardial area to another, being highes
t in the most strained areas (left ventricle, interventricular septum)
. The accumulation of lipopigments is considered a marker of oxidative
stress and ageing in the myocardium. The results support the role of
free radical-induced oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of ethanol-i
nduced cardiac abnormalities.