The influence of electrical cardioversion on superoxide anions (O 2−) production by polymorphonuclear neutrophils, hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) plasma level and malondialdehyde serum concentration

• Published in: International journal of cardiology Vol. 56; no. 2; pp. 137 - 143
• Main Authors: Smielecki, J., Wykretowicz, A., Minczykowski, A., Kazmierczak, M., Wysocki, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 11.10.1996; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anesthesia, General; Atrial Fibrillation - therapy; Atrial Flutter - therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac dysrhythmias; Cardiology. Vascular system; Complication of electrical cardioversion; Electric Countershock - methods; Female; Heart; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide - blood; Hydrogen Peroxide - metabolism; Lipid Peroxidation - physiology; Male; Malondialdehyde - blood; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neutrophil Activation - physiology; Neutrophils - metabolism; Neutrophils - physiology; Oxidants - analysis; Oxygen free radicals; Polymorphonuclear neutrophils; Superoxides - metabolism; Treatment Outcome; Oxygen free radicals; Complication of electrical cardioversion; Polymorphonuclear neutrophils; Human; Oxygen; Arrhythmia; Atrial fibrillation; Granulocyte; Instrumentation therapy; Cardiovascular disease; Cardioversion; Exploration; Free radical; Excitability disorder; Atrial flutter; Instrumental stimulation; Anions; Hyperoxides; Treatment; Heart disease; Production; Neutrophil
• ISSN: 0167-5273; 1874-1754
• DOI: 10.1016/0167-5273(96)02746-5

We studied the influence of electrical cardioversion on unstimulated and stimulated superoxide anion production by polymorphonuclear neutrophils in 22 patients with atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation. We also estimated hydrogen peroxide plasma level, as well as malondialdehyde serum concentration, in these subjects. We noted an increase in spontaneous production of superoxide anions from 14.9 ± 1.8 nmol/10 6 neutrophils per 20 min to 21.37 ± 2.7 nmol/10 6 neutrophils per 20 min ( P = 0.002) in neutrophils obtained after electrical cardioversion. Similarly, stimulated production of O 2 − also increased after electrical cardioversion (41.8 ± 3.4 nmol/10 6 neutrophils per 20 min vs. 59.0 ± 5.9 nmol/10 6 neutrophils per 20 min, P = 0.0027). Moreover, hydrogen peroxide plasma level increased significantly after electrical cardioversion (39.9 ± 6.2 μmol/l vs. 53.4 ± 7.6 mol/l, P = 0.003). Serum malondialdehyde concentration also increased after countershock (2.56 ± 0.26 nmol/ml vs. 2.94 ± 0.26 nmol/ml, P = 0.023). These results seem to indicate that electrical cardioversion may lead to polymorphonuclear neutrophils activation, increased H 2O 2 production and lipid peroxidation.