Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury is a paradoxical exacerbation of cellular dysfunction and cell death occurring after restoration of blood supply in previously ischemic tissues. Reperfusion of the myocardium after coronary occlusion in acute myocardial infarction can cause reperfusion arrhythmias like accelerated idioventricular rhythm. Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury can also occur after cardiac surgery and circulatory arrest [1].  Though reperfusion is essential for salvage of the myocardium it can sometimes cause paradoxical damage. Reperfusion injury can also affect distant organs occasionally leading to multi-organ failure [2].

Animal studies suggest that myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury can account for up to half of the final infarct size [1]. Mitochondrial dysfunction and resulting oxidative stress have been associated with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury [3]. Ischemic preconditioning and post conditioning are two approaches which have been tried for prevention of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury [2].

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