Vitamin C Improves Myocardial Perfusion in Elective PCI

In patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), vitamin C infusion both improves microperfusion and reduces markers of oxidative stress after revascularization, according to a study published in the February 2010 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. The findings suggest that oxidative stress plays a role in causing periprocedural myocardial injury and that vitamin C may help counteract it, the authors say.
To explore the possibility that an antioxidant strategy might reduce impaired microperfusion, investigators led by Francesco Violi, MD, of the University of Rome “La Sapienza” (Rome, Italy), randomized 56 patients at their institution who were scheduled for elective PCI to receive ....