[Dynamic changes of superoxide dismutase in patients with myocardial infarction. A clinical study]

The activity of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) was studied in 35 cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 12 cases of angina pectoris (AP). The results suggested that serum MnSOD activity reached its peak value (18.7 +/- 6.39) immediately after AMI attack and gradually dropped down on the second day. The activity was no more detected on the seventh day. The value of serum MnSOD in patients with AMI within 24 hours was significantly different (P less than 0.05) or very significantly different (P less than 0.01-0.001) from that in patients with AMI after 2 days and AP and in the control group. The positive rate of early diagnosis in the three groups was 100%, 71% and 66% respectively. It was found that the height of serum MnSOD activity was closely correlated with the seriousness of myocardial damage, therefore, serum MnSOD activity may be one of the sensitive indices for the early diagnosis of AMI. In has also certain clinical value in the judgement of the extent of infarction and of prognosis.