Influence of the substitution of selenium and vitamin E on cardiac insufficiency and ventricular cardiac arrhythmia in patients with acute myocardialinfarction

Patients and Method: Patients with acute myocardial infarction were treated with selenium and vitamin E as antioxidants in addition to the standard th erapy. They were compared to a reference group which received no additional therapy. It was to be investigated whether selenium and vitamin E are able to positively influence the course of the infarction, measured by way of t he insufficiency symptoms, ventricular cardiac arrhythmia in long-term ECG and the ejection fraction determined by echocardiography. The concentration s of selenium, malonic dialdehyde (TBARS), glutathione peroxidase and vitam in E were measured at various points in time. Results: During the course of the in-patient treatment, significant percent age increases in selenium, glutathione peroxidase and vitamin E were detect ed. Group differences were similarly significant. it was not possible to de tect differences in the clinical parameters. Possible explanations to be di scussed are the duration of the treatment, the times of the examinations an d the different proportions of patients treated thrombolytically in the 2 g roups.