Hyperhomocysteinaemia and parameters of antioxidative defence in Tunisian patients with coronary heart disease.
BACKGROUND
An imbalance between oxidative damage and antioxidative protection in association with the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis has been suggested. The aim of this study was to test the parameters of antioxidative defence and to assess their association with hyperhomocysteinaemia and the severity of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Tunisian patients.


METHODS
The study population included 100 patients with CHD and 120 healthy controls. The severity of CHD was expressed as the number of affected vessels. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and total antioxidant status (TAS) concentrations were measured using commercially available methods. Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration was determined by direct chemiluminescence assay. Serum zinc (Zn) was measured by a colorimetric method.


RESULTS
Compared with healthy control subjects, patients with CHD had significantly lower activities of SOD (P < 0.01), GPx (P < 0.001), and serum Zn concentrations (P < 0.001) and significantly higher tHcy concentration (P < 0.001). However TAS concentrations were not significantly different between the groups. SOD and GPx activities were negatively correlated with tHcy concentration (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, respectively). Patients with hyperhomocysteinaemia showed a lower GPx and SOD activities than patients with normohomocysteinaemia. Antioxidant enzyme activities tended to be decreased in CHD patients presenting with 0- to 3-vessel stenosis.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that low activity of GPx, SOD and Zn concentration are associated with CHD patients. We hypothesize that hyperhomocysteinaemia and low antioxidant enzyme activities may increase the extent of CHD.
Kerkeni
Mohsen
M
Research Unit 03/UR/08-14, Faculty of Pharmacy, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia. Mohsen.kerkeni@yahoo.fr
Added
Faouzi
F
Ben Farhat
Mohamed
M
Miled
Abdelhedi
A
Trivin
François
F
Maaroufi
Khira
K
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D014416:Tunisia; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D015032:Zinc