Efficiency of l-arginine enriched cardioplegia and non-cardioplegic reperfusion in ischemic hearts

Abstract Objective: Endothelial dysfunction with decreased nitric oxide (NO) levels has been implicated on reperfusion injury. Although l-arginine has been shown to diminish reperfusion injury in in vitro studies, clinical studies were very limited. Methods: Forty patients with acute myocardial ischemia undergoing CABG were randomized to a study and a control group. l-Arginine was added to cardioplegia solutions in study group. A non-cardioplegic warm blood solution with 8 mmol/l l-arginine infused for controlled reperfusion. Control patients received same protocol without l-arginine. Myocardial O 2 , lactate, nitrite and malondialdehyde extractions were measured in addition to calculation of CK-MB/CPK ratio and hemodynamic data. Results: While there was no mortality in study group, one patient in control group died. Overall and nitrite ( P =0.01) and lactate extractions ( P =0.04) was higher in study and control groups, respectively. Myocardial O 2 uptake was higher and malondialdehyde extraction was lower in study group. CK-MB/CPK ratio at postoperative sixth hour was also significantly lower in study group. Ninety percent of the study group had spontaneous return of the sinus rhythm, while 80% of the control patients required defibrillation ( P P =0.037), the length of intensive care unit ( P =0.009) and hospital (0.014) stays were shorter in study group. Conclusions: Use of l-arginine for protection of acutely ischemic myocardium appears to be a safe technique. l-Arginine supplementation increased NO levels and attenuated free O 2 radical mediated myocardial injury. Controlled reperfusion with l-arginine enriched non-cardioplegic blood could be a new therapeutic entity to diminish ischemia/reperfusion injury.