The extent of an ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) significantly affects the prognosis of patients with ST-elevations myocardial infarction (STEMI). Excessive generation of reactive oxygen species during ischemia and subsequent reperfusion leads to cellular necrosis and apoptosis.
These processes contribute to impairment of microcirculation and the non-reflow phenomenon, development and progression of left ventricular remodeling and failure. Many factors affect the complex process of IRI, out of them ischemia duration is of major importance.
Prolonged ischemia has been associated with higher degree of oxidative stress, but only scarce evidence is available up to date. Our goal was to evaluate selected markers of oxidative stress in relation to the reperfusion via primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) and their potential correlation with the ischemic time: time-delay (TD) from symptom onset to reperfusion.