title: Serum antioxidant status in patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular endothelial dysfunction is a central event in pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases. Systemic sclerosis is one of such diseases. The oxidative stress and depletion of antioxidants in the serum is believed to be one of the factors in causing this dysfunction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this case control study was to compare the levels of antioxidants in the serum of patients with systemic sclerosis and the normal age and sex matched controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study consisted of 16 successively admitted patients with systemic sclerosis and 16 healthy, age and sex matched controls. The age group of patient's ranged between 25 and 55 years. The duration of the disease in patients ranged from 1 to 8 years. The serum of patients and controls were assayed for the levels of antioxidants (GSH, NO, MDA, SOD and GPX) by spectrophotometry. The statistical method of analysis used was the one sample t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  THE MEDIAN LEVELS OF ANTIOXIDANTS IN THE CONTROL PATIENTS WERE: SOD-4.14 units/ml; GSH-4.76 units/ml; NO-5.58 nmol/l; MDA-0.53 nmol/l and GPX-49 μmol/l. The levels of NO, GSH and SOD were decreased in these patients with a significant P value (<0.001) whereas the levels of GPX and MDA were normal to increased with a significant P value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The depletion of antioxidants and oxidative stress in serum might be responsible for the vascular dysfunction and other hallmark manifestations of systemic sclerosis. Therefore micronutrient antioxidant supplements may be of therapeutic value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, STD and Leprosy, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.
authors.forename: Iffat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Peerzada
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sajad
authors.forename: Sabiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Majid
authors.forename: Tehseen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hassan
keywords: Glutathione peroxidase; glutathione; malondialdehyde; nitric oxide; superoxide dismutase