Antioxidant status of erythrocytes from patients with cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate possible involvement of oxidant stress in the anemia of cirrhotic patients and to assess blood antioxidant status of these patients.


METHODS
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activities were measured in the erythroctes from patients with liver cirrhosis and from controls. Levels of thiobarbituric acid reagent substance were also measured in the erythrocyte (TBARSe) and plasma (TBARSp) samples of the groups.


RESULTS
Lower activities of SOD and GSH-Px were established in the erythrocytes from patients compared with control subjects. No differences were found between erythrocyte TBARS levels of control and patient groups. Plasma TBARS levels were, however, found to be significantly higher in the patient groups compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that although enzymatic antioxidant defense system is significantly reduced in the erythrocytes from cirrhotic patients, this does not lead to further peroxidative reactions in the erythrocytes, possible due to preoxidation of some cellular structures sensitive to peroxidative attacks. There was, however, an important indication of accelerated peroxidative reactions in the plasma of the cirrhotic patients, which possibly resulted from extracellular oxidant stress in these patients.
Hadi Yasa
M
M
Ankara University, Medical Faculty, Ibn-i Sina Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Turkey.
Kacmaz
M
M
Serda Ozturk
H
H
Durak
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis
D000975:Antioxidants; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase