Abstract

Serum malondialdehyde-like material (MDA-LM), as an index of lipid peroxidation, and the serum enzymes CK, CK-MB, LDH, LDH1 and, alpha-HBDH were evaluated in a group of 26 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), seven with angina pectoris (AP), and in a normal control group of 94 subjects. MDA-LM values were within the normal range in AP patients, while in AMI patients a significant increase in serum MDA-LM was observed in the days following the acute event, reaching a maximum 6-8 days later, when 90% of the patients had values higher than the upper normal limit (mean +/- 2SD) of the control group. A significant correlation was found between the integrated concentration-time MDA-LM curve and the integrated serum enzymes activity curves reached during the nine days after the acute event. The "in vivo" relevance of the increased serum MDA-LM in the post-infarct period is unknown at the present, but as lipid peroxides are known to harm cellular structures and to inhibit prostacyclin synthesis, it may be of interest with regard to the long term secondary effects in AMI patients.