title: Antioxidant defense in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C type.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to determine erythrocyte glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and serum total antioxidant response levels in a large chronic viral hepatitis group who had no antiviral treatment, and also the relationship of these parameters with viral load, fibrosis score, and necro-inflammation of the liver.
  
  
  METHODS
  200 patients who were diagnosed with chronic viral hepatitis and 107 healthy subjects were included in this study. Antioxidant parameters were measured spectrophotometrically. The viral load was assayed using a polymerase chain reaction technique. Histopathologic findings in the liver were scored as necro-inflammatory activity and fibrosis according to Ishak-Knodell score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities, glutathione, and serum total antioxidant response levels were significantly lower in patients than in controls (p < 0,001). Additionally, no significant correlation was found between these markers and viral load, necro-inflammation, and fibrosis of the liver in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest the insufficiency of an antioxidant barrier in patients with chronic viral hepatitis, but the decrease in antioxidant systems was not correlated with viral load, necro-inflammatory activity, and fibrosis score in the liver.
authors.affiliation: University of Gaziantep, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Gaziantep, Turkey. enamiduru@gmail.com
authors.forename: Emine Siber
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Namiduru
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Namiduru
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarakçioğlu
authors.forename: Armağan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D012016:Reference Values; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012709:Serum Albumin; D005293:Ferritins; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione