Antioxidant capacity of the human pericardial fluid: does gender have a role?

The aim of the present study was to assess the antioxidant capacity in the serum and pericardial fluid of patients undergoing heart surgery for coronary heart disease (CHD) or valvular heart disease (VHD) and to find out whether there are gender-related differences in the antioxidant defense. This study involved 85 patients (35 VHD and 50 CHD) undergoing elective heart surgery. Blood samples from the peripheral vein and from the pericardial fluid were taken intraoperatively. Variables determined in the serum and pericardial fluid were: total protein, albumin, uric acid and antioxidant capacity. In the total patient population the antioxidant capacity in the pericardial fluid was lower than in the serum but still relatively high as determined by two independent techniques. No major differences were seen in serum or pericardial fluid antioxidant capacity between the two patient groups. In the overall patient population uric acid (p<0.05), albumin (p<0.01) and total protein concentrations (p<0.01) were, however, significantly greater in the pericardial fluid of male than of female patients. The pericardial fluid may contribute to the local antioxidant defense of the myocardium. It appears that male gender confers advantage in this respect. It remains to be elucidated whether this finding has any implication for the higher risk for women of perioperative complications and of cardiovascular mortality after coronary bypass grafting or coronary angioplasty.