Role of Oxygen in Myocardial Ischaemia and Reperfusion Damage

In recent years much evidence has accumulated from many laboratories implicating free radicals in the pathogenesis of injury during ischaemia and reperfusion in a number of organs. The objective of the present review is to summarise recent studies in the area carried out in our laboratories. Three topics will be considered: first, the oxygen free radical system, the source of free radicals in the ischaemic and reperfused myocardium and the effects of ischaemia on the defence mechanism against oxygen free radicals; second, the occurrence of oxidative stress in man during surgically induced cardiac arrest; third, the possibility of reducing ischaemic and reperfusion damage with interventions known to influence oxygen free radical toxicity. For more detailed and comprehensive information, the reader is referred to other recent excellent reviews. 1–5