Evidence for oxidative stress in unstable angina

Abstract

Biochemical indicators of oxidative stress are more abnormal in unstable than stable angina. This is in keeping with experimental evidence that episodes of ischaemia and reperfusion lead to generation of free radicals and toxic oxygen species and depression of endogenous antioxidant activity. The clinical significance of this finding remains to be determined, although, experimentally, free radicals and toxic oxygen species have adverse effects on myocardial contractile function, myocardial electrical stability, endothelial mediated vasodilatation, and coagulation.