title: Investigation of oxidative stress in patients with chronic tonsillitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oxidative stress has been implicated in numerous pathological conditions including chronic tonsillitis. The aim of this study was to assess levels of lipid peroxidation, evidenced by formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), level of total sulfhydryl groups (TSH), and carbonyl content in patients with tonsillar hypertrophy (TH) and recurrent tonsillitis (RT), before and after tonsillectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study the serum and tonsillar tissue levels of TBARS, TSH and carbonyl content were investigated in 35 patients with TH and RT, before and 1 month after the operation, compared to 30 age-matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both TH and RT groups, a significantly higher serum TBARS levels were observed before and 4 weeks after tonsillectomy in comparison with healthy subjects. The serum level in TH patients after operation was even higher compared to the levels before. There was statistically significant difference in serum TSH levels between patients with RT before operation compared to the control group. After tonsillectomy the serum levels of TSH were higher compared to control groups and TH and RT patients before operation. Carbonyl content was attenuated only in TH patients after tonsillectomy. In tonsillar tissue, significantly lower level of glutathione content (GSH) has been observed in RT related to TH patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxidative stress, in patients with tonsillar hypertrophy and recurrent tonsillitis, is still present 1 month after the removal of tonsillar tissue. Antioxidant therapy, during the recovery period after tonsillectomy, could be optional treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cvetković
authors.forename: Predrag
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vlahović
authors.forename: Miroljub
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Todorović
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stanković
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances