title: Oxidative damage in alcoholic liver disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The metabolic effects of alcohol are due both to its direct action and to that of its first metabolite, and can also be connected with the changes in redox state. Differences in ethanol distribution, bioavailability and hepatic metabolism can provide insight into the protective and predisposing factors in alcoholism, as well as gender differences of alcohol toxicity. Oxidative stress occurs following various conditions of ethanol consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six Caucasian patients with alcoholism and 32 healthy, abstinent controls of both sexes were investigated with special regard to reduction-oxidation status and ad hoc free-radical-antioxidant balance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma free SH-group concentration, H-donating ability, and reducing power property were measured by simple spectrophotometric methods. Total scavenger capacity was determined by a newly developed chemiluminometric method in plasma and erythrocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcoholics showed a decrease of free SH-group concentration, hydrogen-donating ability and an increase of reducing power property in plasma. A decreased total scavenger capacity of erythrocytes and plasma of alcoholic patients, combined with gender differences, could be detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcoholic dependence causes gradual exhaustion of the antioxidant capacity of erythrocytes, therefore this non-invasive measurement may be useful as a follow-up of the evolution of alcoholic liver disease. The results also suggest a gender susceptibility of alcohol toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. hkriszti@bel2.sote.hu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hagymási
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blázovics
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lengyel
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kocsis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fehér
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004912:Erythrocytes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012737:Sex Factors