All healthy memmalian organisms are characterized by an equilibrium be
tween the occurrence of highly reactive oxygen species and their destr
uction by antioxidants. Numerous diseases go hand in hand with a distu
rbance of the homoeostatis. In order to avoid or minimize the destruct
ive effect of the oxidant stress on biological structures, therapies u
tilizing drugs weith anti-oxidant effects are increasingly being appli
ed. Preconditions for these therapies are a characterisation and a fol
low-up of the anti-oxidant status in the diseased organism. In the cou
rse of the present study selenium, glutathione peroxidase and malondia
ldehyde were determined in patients with various clinical pictures (te
rminal renal insufficiency, septic shock, high-risk gravidieties, arte
riosclerosis, pulmonary carcinoma, acute myocardial infarction, test p
atients taking the contraceptive pill). Patients with terminal renal i
nsufficiency and those suffering from septic shock syndromes clearly s
how a selenium decrease in serum and whole blood as well as a drop in
the GSH-Px-activity, and increased malondialdehyde concentrations in t
he serum. Both are a reflection of an increased lipid peroxidation. Fi
rst results of a selenium therapy are available for patients with ther
minal renal insuficiency and post-traumatically induced renal failure.
The interpretation of the findings in the categories ''high-risk grav
idity'' and ''women on the contraceptive pill'', which show a normal G
SH-Px-activity and significantly increased malondialdehyde concentrati
ons, seems problematic. The organism counteracts an increased lipid pe
roxidation with a normal plasma-GSH-Px-activity, clearly a sign of a s
till normal anti-oxidant potential.