Oxidative Stress Status Increase in Patients with Nonischemic Heart Failure

OBJECTIVE: It was the aim of this study to investigate the serum oxidative stress level in nonischemic patients with heart failure (HF). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 37 patients who presented to the Department of Cardiology, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey, with a diagnosis of asymptomatic HF (New York Heart Association class I-II). The patients had a left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) of ≤40% and normal coronary arteries or nonsignificant stenosis (stenosis <40%). In addition, 30 age- and sex-matched normal patients were selected as the control group. Clinical and laboratory characteristics presumed to be associated with oxidative stress were evaluated. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics were comparable. However, creatinine and potassium levels were higher in the HF than in the control group. Total oxidative status [2.42 μmol H(2)O(2) Eq/l (range 0.74–5.86) vs. 1.81 μmol H(2)O(2) Eq/l (range 0.42–3.45); p < 0.01], oxidative stress index [2.24 (range 0.63–5.33) vs. 1.53 (range 0.28–2.51); p < 0.01] and uric acid (6.1 ± 1.8 vs. 4.4 ± 1.1 mg/dl; p < 0.01) levels were significantly higher in the HF than in the control group. The total antioxidant capacity was similar in both groups [1.22 mmol Trolox Eq/l (range 0.61–1.99) vs. 1.18 mmol Trolox Eq/l (range 0.82–1.80); p = 0.77]. The γ-glutamyltransferase levels were also comparable in both groups [32 U/l (range 11–106) vs. 23 U/l (range 11–72); p = 0.10]. CONCLUSION: The oxidative stress levels were higher in HF patients, and hence, oxidative stress may play an important role in poor prognosis of HF. Therefore, antioxidant treatment might be reasonable.