Lipid peroxidation and antioxidative status in beta-thalassemia major patients with or without hepatitis C virus infection.
BACKGROUND
Information pertaining to the lipid peroxidation and antioxidative status of patients with beta-thalassemic major, with or without hepatitis C virus infection, has been scanty.


METHODS
We report here the results of our efforts in the evaluation of lipid peroxidative status, antioxidants, and vitamin A, E and C levels in the sera of a group of patients (n=42) with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemic major with or without HCV infection.


RESULTS
Firstly, plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, a lipid peroxidation product, in these patients was found to be increased significantly when compared to the disease-free controls (p<0.05). Conversely, levels of plasma vitamins A, E and C were all shown to be drastically reduced as compared to the disease-free controls (p<0.01). In parallel with these data, we also found that HCV infection did play some role in aggravating the depletion of plasma vitamin E and C levels in the beta-thalassemic patients. In contrast, HCV infection did not seem to alter the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase and GSH peroxidase.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, our data indicate that excessive lipid peroxidation and a profound depletion of plasma vitamin A, E and C levels exist in patients with beta-thalassemic major. These data suggest that antioxidant supplementation to the patients for the purpose of alleviating the oxidative stress may be warranted.
Chiou
Shyh-Shin
SS
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chang
Tai-Tsung
TT
Tsai
Shih-Pien
SP
Jang
Ren-Chin
RC
Lin
Shu-Kai
SK
Lee
Su-Chen
SC
Tsai
Shih-Meng
SM
Tsai
Li-Yu
LY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*
D000975:Antioxidants