[Effect of administration of selenium and vitamin E on heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with acute myocardial infarct].

PATIENTS AND
METHOD: Patients with acute myocardial infarction were treated with selenium and vitamin E as antioxidants in addition to the standard therapy. 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 the insufficiency symptoms, ventricular cardiac arrhythmia in long-term ECG and the ejection fraction determined by echocardiography. The concentrations of selenium, malonic dialdehyde (TBARS), glutathione peroxidase and vitamin E were measured at various points in time.
RESULTS: During the course of the in-patient treatment, significant percentage increases in selenium, glutathione peroxidase and vitamin E were detected. Group differences were similarly significant. It was not possible to detect differences in the clinical parameters. Possible explanations to be discussed are the duration of the treatment, the times of the examinations and the different proportions of patients treated thrombolytically in the 2 groups.