HEPATIC AND ERYTHROCYTIC GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IN LIVER-DISEASES

Hepatic and erythrocytic glutathione peroxidase activity, together wit h malondialdehyde levels, were determined as indicators of peroxidatio n in 83 patients from whom liver biopsies had been taken for diagnosti c purposes. On histological study, the patients were classified into g roups as minimal changes (including normal liver), steatosis, alcoholi c hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, light to moderately active chronic hep atitis, and severe chronic active hepatitis. The glutathione peroxidas e activity in erythrocytes showed no significant changes in any liver disease group. In the hepatic study, an increased activity was observe d in steatosis with respect to the minimal changes group, this increas ed activity induced by the toxic agent in the initial stages of the al coholic hepatic disease declining as the hepatic damage progressed. Th ere was a negative correlation between the levels of hepatic malondial dehyde and hepatic glutathione peroxidase in subjects with minimal cha nges. This suggested the existence of an oxidative equilibrium in this group. This equilibrium is broken in the liver disease groups as was manifest in a positive correlation between malondialdehyde and glutath ione peroxidase activity.