Fructose-l, 6-diphosphate as an additive to cold crystalloid cardioplegia [St. Thomas sol.] was studied prospectively in 60 patients undergoing open heart surgery from January 1, 1991, to June 30, 1991. Thirty patients received cardioplegia with FDP[group I ] and 30 patients received cardioplegia without FDP [group II ]. There were no differences between two groups pre-operatively with regard to age, heart disease, cross-clamp time, cardiac enzymes, or hemodynamic measurements [p>0.05]. Cardiopulmonary bypass was established using ascending aorta and vena cava cannulation employing moderate systemic hypothermia [30oC nasopharyngeal temperature] and hemodilution All patients received cardioplegia through the aortic root at aortic root pressure of 80mm Hg. The composition of the cardioplegic solution and its delivery were identical in both groups except for the addition of FDP[1.5 mg/mL] in group I. The cardioplegic infusate consisted of St. Thomas Hospital solution. The initial dose was infused through the aortic root. Topical myocardial cooling with saline slush was employed in all patients. Recorded operative data were cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times, amount of cardioplegic infusate. Blood samples for assessment of lactate dehydrogenase [LDH], creatine kinase [CK] and transaminases [GOT, GPT] were obtained before and at 1,2,3,7th postoperative period. Better myocardial protection effect was noted in group I than group II with respect to the % change of cardiac enzymes, although the differences were not significant. We conclude that FDP is a safe additive to crystalloid cardioplegia and may be beneficial in open heart surgery patients,