Lipid peroxidation and protective enzymes during myocardial infarction.

Fasting blood taken from 34 patients with myocardial infarction, 19 with unstable angina and 40 healthy controls, was analysed for malondialdehyde and erythrocyte detoxification enzymes, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Malondialdehyde concentration was raised in the patients with myocardial infarction during the initial 48 h after an attack, and correlated with the severity of the attack. 12 days after the infarct, malondialdehyde concentrations were lower but still raised. Superoxide dismutase activity was below normal during the initial 48 h post infarct and raised twelve days after. Glutathione peroxidase was reduced after 12 days. Similar, but less marked changes were seen in the patients unstable angina.