Calcium dobesilate reduces oxidative stress in cardiac surgery

Calcium dobesilate (CD) is a synthetic benzene sulfonate derivative and an angioprotective agent used orally. It can be used in patients who have diabetic retinopathy or chronic venous insufficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CD on the reduction of oxidative stress during coronary artery bypass graft operations on cardiopulmonary bypass.

A double-blind prospective randomized study was carried out on 30 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass operations. The control and study groups were composed of 15 patients each. Pretreatment with CD started two weeks before the operation. Serial blood samples for superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase were collected for the serum concentration measurements of the major endogenous antioxidant enzyme systems and malondialdehyde for scavenging capacity.

After the release of cross clamp levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. they were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (P<0.05). Malondialdehyde levels in the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The cardiac function after aortic declamping was affected by CD, indicating contribution of CD to myocardial injury from ischemia/reperfusion.

The study suggests that pretreatment with CD alleviates malondialdehyde production and preserves endogenous antioxidant capacity during cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest.