title: Systemic antioxidant defences during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Existence of an increased oxidative stress has been confirmed in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. This study aims to examine the extent and time-course of antioxidant defence in patients with an acute exacerbation of COPD in comparison with stable patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with acute exacerbation were studied at admission, and then 24 h and 48 h following admission and at discharge. The antioxidants assessed were the endogenous antioxidants: glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, oxidized and reduced glutathione, albumin and exogenous antioxidants: alpha-tocopherol and retinol. Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity as a marker of antioxidant status was also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an increase in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase 48 h after admission (P<0.05). Alpha-tocopherol was the lowest 24 h after admission and increased significantly at discharge (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an increase in antioxidant defence during acute exacerbation of COPD reaching a maximum at 48 h after admission. This rise in the antioxidant defence is not sufficient to prevent depletion of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. anna.sadowska@ua.ac.be
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sadowska
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luyten
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vints
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verbraecken
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Ranst
authors.forename: Wilfried A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: De Backer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D003545:Cysteine