Introduction to the role of oxygen radicals in myocardial ischemia and infarction.

There has been considerable interest over the past several years concerning the role of oxygen radicals in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. The purpose of the following symposium will be to review recent advances in the understanding of oxygen free radical damage to the heart. Included in the symposium are descriptions of the biochemistry of free radicals and evidence of their direct toxic effects on the heart, as well as discussions concerning the effect of oxygen free radical scavengers on myocardial infarct size, the stunned myocardium, and cardiac preservation during surgery.