Myocardial reperfusion injury: experimental evidence and clinical relevance. 1995

P R Hansen
Department of Medicine B2142, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Critically timed reperfusion is a prerequisite for survival of ischaemic myocardium. However, reperfusion may have an injurious component, which in experimental models appears to be mediated by reperfusion-induced augmentation of the inflammatory response and generation of reactive oxygen free radicals. Four expressions of myocardial reperfusion injury have been defined, i.e. reperfusion arrhythmias, post-ischaemic contractile dysfunction (myocardial stunning), coronary vascular and microvascular reperfusion injury, and acceleration of necrosis in irreversibly injured cells/precipitation of necrosis in reversibly injured cells. Mechanical and pharmacological reperfusion therapy is well established in clinical cardiology, and this article reviews the experimental data underlying the current view of myocardial reperfusion injury, and considers the clinical relevance of this phenomenon.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008833 Microcirculation The circulation of the BLOOD through the MICROVASCULAR NETWORK. Microvascular Blood Flow,Microvascular Circulation,Blood Flow, Microvascular,Circulation, Microvascular,Flow, Microvascular Blood,Microvascular Blood Flows,Microvascular Circulations
D009206 Myocardium The muscle tissue of the HEART. It is composed of striated, involuntary muscle cells (MYOCYTES, CARDIAC) connected to form the contractile pump to generate blood flow. Muscle, Cardiac,Muscle, Heart,Cardiac Muscle,Myocardia,Cardiac Muscles,Heart Muscle,Heart Muscles,Muscles, Cardiac,Muscles, Heart
D009336 Necrosis The death of cells in an organ or tissue due to disease, injury or failure of the blood supply.
D003331 Coronary Vessels The veins and arteries of the HEART. Coronary Arteries,Sinus Node Artery,Coronary Veins,Arteries, Coronary,Arteries, Sinus Node,Artery, Coronary,Artery, Sinus Node,Coronary Artery,Coronary Vein,Coronary Vessel,Sinus Node Arteries,Vein, Coronary,Veins, Coronary,Vessel, Coronary,Vessels, Coronary
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001145 Arrhythmias, Cardiac Any disturbances of the normal rhythmic beating of the heart or MYOCARDIAL CONTRACTION. Cardiac arrhythmias can be classified by the abnormalities in HEART RATE, disorders of electrical impulse generation, or impulse conduction. Arrhythmia,Arrythmia,Cardiac Arrhythmia,Cardiac Arrhythmias,Cardiac Dysrhythmia,Arrhythmia, Cardiac,Dysrhythmia, Cardiac
D015428 Myocardial Reperfusion Injury Damage to the MYOCARDIUM resulting from MYOCARDIAL REPERFUSION (restoration of blood flow to ischemic areas of the HEART.) Reperfusion takes place when there is spontaneous thrombolysis, THROMBOLYTIC THERAPY, collateral flow from other coronary vascular beds, or reversal of vasospasm. Reperfusion Injury, Myocardial,Injury, Myocardial Reperfusion,Myocardial Ischemic Reperfusion Injury,Injuries, Myocardial Reperfusion,Myocardial Reperfusion Injuries,Reperfusion Injuries, Myocardial
D017682 Myocardial Stunning Prolonged dysfunction of the myocardium after a brief episode of severe ischemia, with gradual return of contractile activity. Hibernation, Myocardial,Myocardial Hibernation,Stunned Myocardium,Myocardium, Stunned,Stunning, Myocardial

Related Publications

P R Hansen
January 1997, Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis,
P R Hansen
August 1999, American heart journal,
P R Hansen
September 1991, Trends in cardiovascular medicine,
P R Hansen
January 1992, Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology,
P R Hansen
December 1997, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
Copied contents to your clipboard!