Free Radicals, Cardiovascular Dysfunction and Protection Strategies (Medical Intelligence Unit)

This text discusses the role of reactive oxygen radicals in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. These reactive oxygen species include superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen. The book describes the biochemistry of oxygen radicals, the mechanisms of free radical generation from various potential sources, and their interaction with membrane proteins, which leads to cardiovascular dysfunction and protection based on antioxidants and histidine. The endogenous protection strategies based on ischemic preconditioning and heat stress are also discussed.