Effect of smoking on serum xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Objective: To evaluate the effect of smoking on blood levels of xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde in acute myocardial infarction patients. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from June to November 2013 and comprised myocardial infarction in-patients at Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Hospital, Jamshoro, and Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad. Serum samples from age and gender matched smoking and non-smoking patients were investigated for the levels of xanthine oxidase and malondialdehyde by kit methods. Results: Of the 88 serum samples investigated, 68(77.3%) belonged to men and 20(22.7%) to women. Among the 44 smokers, 35(79.5%) were men and 9(20.5%) were women. The overall mean age of the group was 49.6±8.0 years. Among the 44 non-smokers, 33(75%) were men and 11(25%) women. The overall mean age of the group was 50.9±8.4 Years. Smokers compared to non-smokers had significantly raised mean serum xanthine oxidase (0.31±0.05 vs 0.28±0.03mg/dl; p 0.05) and malondialdehyde (32.29±3.30 vs 30.30±2.87 μmol/L; p 0.04) levels. Conclusion: Smokers as against the non-smokers were at higher risk of developing acute myocardial infarction owing to increased level of oxidative stress caused by smoking.