title: Respiratory Burst Enzymes, Pro-Oxidants and Antioxidants Status in Bangladeshi Population with β-Thalassemia Major.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidative stress is intimately associated with many diseases, including β-thalassemia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was to estimate the status of respiratory burst enzymes, pro-oxidants, and antioxidants in β-thalassemia major patients in Bangladesh and to compare with apparently healthy individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 49 subjects were recruited which included 25 patients (age range 5 to 40 years) with β-thalassemia major and 24 controls (age and sex matched). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) represented respiratory burst enzymes; malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid hydroperoxide (LHP), and xanthine oxidase (XO) were measured as pro-oxidants; and glutathione S transferase (GST), vitamin C (Vit.C), and glutathione (GSH) were the measured antioxidants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The activity of SOD was significantly (P < 0.001) increased by about 79% and the activity of CAT was significantly (P < 0.001) decreased by more than 34% in the blood of β-thalassemia major patients compared to the control group. The content of pro-oxidants such as MDA, LHP, and XO was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in patients by about 228%, 241.3% and 148.1% respectively compared to control group. The level of GSH and Vit.C were significantly (P = 0.000) decreased in patients by about 59% and 81% versus the healthy group, respectively; and GST activity was significantly (P < 0.001) declined by 44.25% in patients group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  β-thalassemia major patients demonstrate raised oxidative stress compared to healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Faruk
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Arifur Rahman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tanu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Hossain Uddin
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Shekhar
keywords: Antioxidants; Children; Free radicals; Respiratory burst enzymes; Sickle cell disease