title: Homocysteine levels and total antioxidant capacity in children with acute rheumatic fever.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and homocysteine levels in children with acute rheumatic fever (ARF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients with ARF and twenty healthy children, age- and sex-matched were included in the study. Follow-up studies were made at the 7(th), 14(th), 21(st) and 28(th) day of diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with ARF had significantly higher serum homocysteine levels and lower TAC than the same parameters of the controls at all measurements. Following the anti-inflammatory therapy, we found a progressive increase in TAC and a decrease in homocysteine levels of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that increased serum homocysteine levels and decreased serum TAC of the patients with ARF can be considered as a sign of increased inflammation and oxidative stress in these patients which needs to be considered during therapy. Further studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Meram Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, University of Selcuk, Konya 42080, Turkey. kurbanseminer@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurban
authors.forename: Idris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mehmetoglu
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oran
authors.forename: Aysel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiyici
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D012459:Salicylates; D006710:Homocysteine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D011239:Prednisolone