PROOXIDANT AND ANTIOXIDANT RED-CELL SYSTE MS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE

Lipid peroxidation as shown by malonic dialdehyde (MDA) levels and enz ymic antioxidant defense systems were evaluated in red cells from pati ents with renal affections free of chronic renal failure (group 1), in conservative curable stage of chronic renal failure (group 2a), in te rminal stage nondialysis patients (group 2b) and in healthy donors. MD A was higher in patients, in group 2b in particular. MDA levels correl ated with concentrations of endogenic creatinin in the serum. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase were at control levels. SOD was not change d in group 1 but appeared reduced in other groups. Its activity was no t related to serum creatinine. An inverse relationship existed between MDA content and SOD activity in red cells. It is believed that progre ssion of chronic renal insufficiency leads to activation of lipid pero xidation and deterioration of antioxidant defense in red cells contrib uting to more active red cell destruction causing anemia in uremia.