Superoxide dismutase activity in synovial fluids in patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the synovial fluid of patients with temporomandibular joint internal derangement and to show the relationship between the activity of SOD and the severity of the disease.


METHODS
Twenty patients with internal derangement were classified according to Wilkes by clinical radiological examinations. SOD activity was measured by the method based on nitrobluetetrazolium reduction rate.


RESULTS
The activity of SOD seemed to be progressively decreased as the stage of the disease increased.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduction of SOD activity observed may result from insufficient scavenging capacity of free radicals. Further investigation and longitudinal studies are required to determine the role of antioxidants that scavenge the free radicals in temporomandibular joint disorders.
Güven
Orhan
O
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey. oguven@dentistry.ankara.edu.tr
Tekin
Umut Saracoglu
US
Durak
Ilker
I
Keller
Eugene E
EE
Hatipoglu
Murat
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000201:enzymology*; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000201:enzymology*
D013482:Superoxide Dismutase