ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES IN RBCS AS A BIOLOGICAL INDEX OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

The present study was undertaken to assess the levels of antioxidant e nzymes in red blood cells of subjects with age-related macular degener ation and age-matched controls. The results obtained show a significan t decrease in activities of superoxide dismutase (p < 0.001) and gluta thione peroxidase (p < 0.001) as compared to the controls. A good corr elation (r = -0.99) was also observed between age and decreased activi ty of antioxidant enzymes in controls, and also correlated well with a ge-related macular degeneration. In conclusion, oxidative stress as as sessed by antioxidant enzymes is more pronounced in subjects with age- related macular degeneration as compared to age-matched controls.