Oxygen free radicals and myocardial reperfusion injury

Richard C. Dart, Arthur B. Sanders

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Diseases involving tissue reperfusion following ischemia are gaining significance in emergency medicine. The significance of reperfusion injury and the probable role of oxygen-derived free radicals has been described in many tissues, particularly the heart. During myocardial reperfusion a burst of oxygen-derived free radicals overwhelms normal cellular defenses. These radicals may have several detrimental effects. They can oxidize lipids, leading to membrane dysfunction. They can also alter nucleic and other proteins. Cellular dysfunction and death may ensue. Prevention of oxygen-derived free radical injury appears possible and may be feasible for several disease processes, including myocardial reperfusion after infarction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)53-58
Number of pages6
JournalAnnals of emergency medicine
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1988

Keywords

  • injury, reperfusion, myocardial
  • radicals, oxygen free, myocardial

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Emergency Medicine

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