Coronary angiography and alterations of the antioxidant status

Patients and Methods: In a prospective study in 53 patients with stable ang ina pectoris symptoms the antioxidant status (glutathione peroxidase, gluta thione, superoxid dismutase, malondialdehyde and selenium in serum and whol e blood) was determined before and 4 to 6 hours after coronary angiography. According to the results of the coronary angiography the patients were cla ssified in a group with "severe" (n = 16) and another with "moderate" coron ary alterations. Results: In both groups there was a significant reduction of selenium in se rum and whole blood. The enzymes glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dism utase as well as glutathione and malondialdehyde changed only slightly. Conclusion: These results can be the cause of an increase of the formation of free radicals during coronary reperfusion (PTCA, implantation of stents in the group with "severe" coronary alterations) but could also be seen as a sign of formation of radicals by the method itself(in patients with "mode rate" coronary alterations). Further investigations are indicated. Furtherm ore the amelioration of the antioxidant status of the organism by scavenger substances (vitamins A, B, C and selenium) should be discussed.