Leukotrienes excretion in acute myocardial ischemia

ABSTRACT

The role of leukotrienes, released at the site of myocardial ischemia, in attraction of neutrophils and contribution in cardiac dysfunction were suggested. Leukotrienes, having rapid metabolism and excretion, are difficultly measured in blood, their major metabolite leukotriene E4 [LTE4] detected in urine is a sensitive index for their production. In this study, the evaluation of the role of LTE4 measured in urine as an index for acute myocardial ischemia. Patients admitted to ICU complaining of acute myocardial ischemia were subdivided into group 1 [15 patients with acute myocardial infraction], group 2 [10 patients with unstable angina], control group [4 patients with chronic stable myocardial ischemia and 5 normal controls]. All patients and controls were subjected to clinical, ECG and echocardiographic examination, together with laboratory measurement of serum cardiac enzymes and urinary ITE4 by ELISA technique. The results demonstrated higher concentration of LTE4 in urine samples from AMI subjects 8 +/- 2 hours after infarction compared with samples collected two days later. A similar significant increase in LTE4 was observed in acute angina group. Two patients were given omega 3 fatty acids [EPA] for one month in a trial to lower urinary LTE4. The results were equivocal