Relationship Between Ischemic Heart Disease and Leukocyte Aggregation with Activities of Glutathione Peroxidase and Superoxide Dismutase

In view of the possible role of leukocytes and free oxygen radicals in the etiology of ischemic heart disease, we studied 22 acute myocardial infarction patients, 22 patients who had ischemic heart disease but no myocardial infarction and 24 healthy control subjects. White blood cell counts, leukergy test for leukocyte aggregation and activities of glutathione peroxidase with superoxide dismutase were measured in these subjects. Activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in patients with myocardial infarction (28.3 ± 1.3 U/ghb and 1289.2 ± 23.7 U/ghb, respectively) and ischemic heart disease without myocardial infarction (28.9±U/ghb and 1328.5±22.7 U/gbh respectively) were found to be significantly lower than controls (32.2±1.4 U/ghb and 1425.9±36.2 U/ghb, respectively). Percentage of leukergy and white blood cell counts in patients with myocardial infarction (7.3±0.5 % and 9085±199/µl, respectively) were found to be significantly higher than controls (3.7±0.4 % and 7130 ± 299µl, respectively). Percentages of leukergy in acute myocardial infarction group were significantly higher than in patients with ischemic heart disease without myocardial infarction. However, more extended clinical and experimental studies are needed to draw definive conclusions for the prevention and etiology of ischemic heart disease.