Low blood glutathione levels in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Although experimental studies have demonstrated that reduced glutathione (GSH) is involved in cellular protection from deleterious effects of oxygen free radicals in ischaemia and reperfusion, there are controversial data on the correlation between levels of GSH and the ischaemic process. AIM: The present study was planned to evaluate erythrocyte GSH levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). SETTING & DESIGN: Erythrocyte GSH levels were determined in 22 patients with AMI and 15 age matched healthy volunteers served as control. MATERIAL & METHODS: Erythrocyte GSH levels were measured by using Bentler in AMI and control patients. Also lipid profile was analyzed enzymatically in these subject. STATISTICS: The values were expressed as means +/- standard deviation (SD) and data from patients and controls was compared using student's 't'-test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: GSH levels were significantly decreased in AMI as compared to control (p<0.001). Also, total cholesterol and triglycerides were higher is AMI subjects (p<0.05). These finding suggest that depressed GSH levels may be associated with enhanced protective mechanism to oxidative stress in AMI.