Exercise-induced increase in lipid peroxidation in patients with chronic heart failure: relation to exercise intolerance.

Little is known about the relationship between exercise intolerance and lipid peroxidation in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between exercise-induced plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) changes in CHF patients and to determine whether there is any association between plasma MDA levels and exercise capacity assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was applied to 31 CHF patients (16 ischemic, 15 idiopathic) and controls. Rest and peak exercise blood samples were analyzed for MDA. Patients with CHF had elevation of plasma MDA levels during exercise compared with controls (p < 0.001 vs. p = 0.588). MDA change remained significant both in ischemic and idiopathic cardiomyopathy groups (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Delta MDA (peak exercise MDA - rest MDA) showed significant inverse correlation with peak oxygen consumption in patients with CHF. Lipid peroxidation is increased in patients with CHF during exercise regardless of etiology, and this increase is inversely related to oxygen consumption. (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.