ERYTHROCYTIC GLUTATHIONE IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS - A POSSIBLE MARKER OF PULMONARY DYSFUNCTION

To evaluate the role of red blood cell (RBC) antioxidants as clinical markers of oxidative exposure, we measured RBC glutathione (GSH) conce ntrations in 32 adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and 8 health y age-matched control subjects. We chose patients with CF because this disease is characterized by severe bronchial inflammation and marked oxidant-antioxidant imbalance. Although the GSH concentration of the t wo study groups was not significantly different, the RBC GSH concentra tion of patients with CF had a greater variability (p=0.01) and was al so inversely and significantly correlated to tests of pulmonary functi on (p<0.05). These data indicate a large and significant interindividu al variability of erythrocytic antioxidants in patients with CF, with a compensatory, but probably inadequate, increase in patients with mor e severe respiratory deterioration. Red blood cell GSH concentration m ay thus provide a biologic marker for disease severity and a rationale for antioxidant manipulation in these patients.