INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO OXIDATION OF LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS ISOLATED FROM PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC-SCLEROSIS

Objective. To examine the resistance to oxidation of low-density lipop roteins (LDL) from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and primary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) compared with healthy controls, Methods. Pla sma LDL were isolated from patients with diffuse cutaneous and limited cutaneous SSc (dcSSc and IcSSc, respectively), patients with primary RP, and healthy control subjects, The lipoproteins were assessed for t heir resistance to oxidation in the presence of cupric ions, using spe ctrophotometric assays. Results. LDL from patients with dcSSc and IcSS c were more susceptible to oxidation than were those from healthy cont rol subjects or patients with RP, Conclusion. Our findings suggest tha t free radicals may play a role in the pathology of SSc.