Oxidative damage to the myocardium: a fundamental mechanism of myocardial injury.

Certain pathophysiologic conditions are able to shift normal oxygen metabolism towards univalent reduction, resulting in the production of reduced oxygen intermediates, including free radicals and their metabolites. Oxygen free radicals have been implicated in a number of pathologic conditions, including myocardial injury. The possible sources of oxygen free radicals, the detection of the radicals during ischemia/reperfusion and possible mechanisms of free radical damage are discussed. The clinical implications of free radical damage and the experimental drug therapies at present under investigation are also reviewed.