RESUMO
This study was conducted to find out the impact of the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E in the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction. All the acute myocardial patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit of Tanta University Hospital during a six months period were included in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups [43 patients each]. Patients of the first group [antioxidant group] were given vitamin A, E, and C besides the conventional ante-ischemic therapy throughout the period of hospital stay. Patients of the second group [the control group] were given only the conventional ante-ischemic therapy. Both groups were subjected to patient education program concerning the allowed working activities, leisure time exercise, frequency and constituent of meals. Patients of the antioxidant group were instructed to add to one of their daily meals at least two of the food stuffs rich in the antioxidant vitamins [grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and milk]. Then, patients were followed up [monthly throughout a one year period] for the frequencies of occurrence of anginal pain, heart failure, hypotension and arrhythmias. The infarction size was measured for every patient from the ECG [via Silves score]. The study showed that the antioxidant vitamins [Vitamin A, C, and E] have a good prognostic value regarding reduction of the infarction size, decreasing rate of recurrence of anginal attacks besides minimizing frequencies of complications [Hypotension, arrhythmias and heart failure] and consequently the frequencies of hospital readmission were reduced