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Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Meaning

Ischemia Reperfusion Injury (IRI) is the paradoxical tissue damage that occurs when blood flow, having been interrupted (ischemia), is subsequently restored (reperfusion) to the deprived tissue or organ. While reperfusion is necessary for cell survival, the reintroduction of oxygen and inflammatory mediators triggers a cascade of detrimental events that often exacerbate the initial ischemic damage. This injury is a significant clinical challenge in transplantation, myocardial infarction, and stroke, limiting successful recovery.