Free radical toxicity and antioxidants in Guillain-Barre syndrome, a preliminary study.
BACKGROUND
The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a vast array of disease processes including some neurological disorders.


METHODS
Ten patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and 10 age and sex-matched controls were included in this study. The erythrocyte glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as plasma antioxidant vitamins C and E and serum glutathione-S-transferase (GST) levels were estimated spectrophotometrically.


RESULTS
The plasma vitamin E and the serum total glutathione-S-transferase levels were markedly increased in both pre- and post-treated cases of GBS when compared to controls. The erythrocyte glutathione and malondialdehyde levels were significantly reduced in GBS cases when compared to normals. However, plasma vitamin C and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase were not altered when compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Free radical toxicity may have an influence in patients suffering from GBS.
Kumar
Kiran T
KT
Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal-576 104, Karnataka, India.
Chandrika
A
A
Sumanth
Krishna N
KN
Sireesha
P
P
Rao
Suryanarayana
S
Rao
Anjali
A
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000097:blood; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D014810:Vitamin E; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid