[A clinical trial of recombinant human superoxide dismutase for myocardial protection]

This study explored the effect of recombinant human superoxide dismutase (rh-SOD) for the prevention of reperfusion injury and the myocardial protection in open heart surgery. Fifty one patients undergoing cardiac valve replacements were divided into the following four groups; group I (n = 14), 50 ml of saline was administered through the aortic root into the coronary artery a few minutes prior to reperfusion; group II (n = 14), rh-SOD (10000 U/kg) was administered as the same manner as the group I; group III (n = 13), rh-SOD (10000 U/kg) was administered into the cardiopulmonary circuit a few minutes prior to reperfusion; group IV (n = 10), rh-SOD (3000 U/kg) was administered as the same manner as the group III. They received continuous perfusion of cold blood and GIK solution every 30 minutes. Arterial blood samplings for Creatine phosphokinase MBisozyme (CPK-MB), alpha-hydroxy lactic acid dehydrogenase (HBDH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBA) were measured up to 24 hours after the reperfusion. CPK-MB values at 12 and 24 hours after reperfusion, and HBDH value at 12 hours after the reperfusion in group II were significantly lower than those in group I. CPK-MB and HBDH levels in group III were lower than group I without statistically significant differences. TBA levels in group II at 9 and 12 hours after the reperfusion were lower than these in group I. TBA levels were not statistically different in group I, III and IV. These results suggest that administration of rh-SOD at the time of reperfusion may be required to prevent reperfusion injury in open heart surgery.