Amelioration of persistent left ventricular function impairment through increased plasma ascorbate levels following myocardial infarction

Purpose: Percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCA) has been demonstrated to reduce mortality and morbidity and thereby improve the prognosis of patients undergoing acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs). However, this procedure paradoxically increases the initial damage as the result of a condition known as ‘myocardial reperfusion injury’. Oxidative stress may contribute to the mechanism of this injury. The goal of the present study was to ascertain whether high plasma ascorbate levels could ameliorate the reperfusion injuries that occur after the successful restoration of blood flow.Methods: Patients from three clinical centers of the public health system were included in the study. The groups were formed by either-sex patients with a diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with an indication for primary PCA. Only the patients who presented with their first myocardial infarction were enrolled. Ascorbate was administered through an infusion given prior to the restoration of the coronary flow, w...