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Myocardial preservation by therapy with coenzyme Q10 during heart surgery

  • Conference on Coenzyme Q
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Summary

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a natural and essential cofactor in the heart. It is the primary redox coupler in the respiratory chain, a potent free radical scavenger, and a superoxide inhibitor. In this study the myocardial protective effects of CoQ10 were determined in high-risk (n = 10) patients during heart surgery compared to that found in placebo controls (n = 10). In both groups, there was a blood CoQ10 deficiency (<0.6 μg/ml), low cardiac index (CI < 2.4 1/m2 per minute), and low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF < 35%) before treatment. CoQ10 (100 mg per day) was given orally for 14 days before and 30 days after surgery. Presurgical CoQl0 treatment significantly (P < 0.01) improved blood and myocardial CoQ10 and myocardial ATP compared to that found in the control group. Cardiac functions (CI and LVEF) were improved but not significantly. After cardiac cooling, rewarming, and reperfusion; blood and tissue CoQ10 and tissue ATP levels were maintained in the normal ranges in the CoQ10 patients. Cardiac pumping (CI) and LVEF were significantly (P < 0.01) improved. The recovery course was short (3–5 days) and uncomplicated. In the control group blood and tissue CoQ10, tissue ATP levels, and cardiac functions were depressed after surgery. The recovery course was long (15–30 days) and complicated. Positive relationships between blood and myocardial CoQ10, myocardial ATP, cardiac function, and the postoperative recovery time and course found in both study groups show the therapeutic benefits of CoQ10 in preserving the myocardium during heart surgery. CoQ10 treatment is especially indicated in high-risk cardiac surgery patients who have a natural or clinically induced CoQ10 deficiency.

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Abbreviations

ATP:

adenosine triphosphate

C1 :

control data collected in the cardiac catheterization laboratory

C2 :

control data collected in the operating room just before cardiac cooling

CC:

cardiac cooling

CI:

cardiac index

CoQ10 :

coenzyme Q10

CW:

cardiac warming

LVEF:

left ventricular ejection fraction

GI:

group I (CoQ10 treatment)

GII:

group II (placebo treatment)

LVEDVI:

left ventricular end-diastolic volume index

SI:

stroke volume index

SR:

surgical recovery

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Author notes

  1. K. Folkers

    Present address: Institute for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas at Austin, 78712, Austin, TX, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Research and Anesthesiology, St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis

    W. V. Judy & W. W. Stogsdill

  2. The Institute for Biomedical Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA

    K. Folkers

Authors
  1. W. V. Judy
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  2. W. W. Stogsdill
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  3. K. Folkers
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Judy, W.V., Stogsdill, W.W. & Folkers, K. Myocardial preservation by therapy with coenzyme Q10 during heart surgery. Clin Investig 71 (Suppl 8), S155–S161 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226859

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