title: Antioxidant defense in children with chronic viral hepatitis B and C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was estimation of antioxidant defence state in children with chronic viral hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 100 children with chronic viral hepatitis who have serological and molecular markers of HBV or HCV infection. In all patients catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in erythrocytes were assayed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed statistically significant decrease of CAT and SOD activities and increase of GSH-Px activity in children with chronic hepatitis B and C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest the possibility of insufficiency of antioxidant barrier in children with chronic viral hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Allergology, Medical University, ul. Ujejskiego 75, 85-168 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chrobot
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szaflarska-Szczepanik
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Drewa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase