Effect of glutathion pretreatment on hypothermic ischemic cardioplegia.

Glutathion (GSH) plays an important role in maintenance of the redox state of the myocardium and acts as the membrane stabilizer. Seventeen patients who underwent cardiac surgery were subjected to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and ischemic cardioplegia. The effect of GSH on ischemic myocardium was evaluated by serum lysosomal enzymes (acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase), isoenzymes of creatine phosphokinase (MB-CPK) and aspartate aminotransferase (m-GOT). standard CPB was instituted and systemic hypothermia was employed. GSH was administered to 8 patients in a dose of 200 mg/kg i.v. prior to institution of CPB. Mixed venous blood was sampled before administration of GSH, 10 min after institution of CPB and 0, 1, 6, 24 and 48 hr of reperfusion period following cardioplegia. Activity of acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase were significantly suppressed in the GSH-treated group compared to the non-treated group at 24 hours of reperfusion and immediately after aortic unclamping, respectively. Serum MB-CPK levels remained stable during reperfusion, but in the non-treated group, the level increased significantly at 6 hours of reperfusion. Increment of serum m-GOT levels was significantly suppressed at 1, 6 and 24 hours of reperfusion, compared to the non-treated group. These data suggest that pretreatment of GSH can protect the myocardium subjected to CPB from ischemic insult.