In a group of young subjects with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (97 men and 8 women; mean age 39.6+/-5.5 years) we examined the thiobarbituric acid - reactive substances and the total antioxidant status at the initial stage and after 12 months. The same parameters were examined in a group of 55 control subjects. Our results show that, while in control subjects there was a negative correlation (p<0.001) between these two parameters, no correlation was found in juvenile myocardial infarction at the initial stage as well as after 12 months.