Oxidative stress in chronic renal failure

This study focuses on the oxidative stress in patients with severe chronic renal failure who Me not undergoing dialysis treatment. The erythocyte leve ls, creatinine clearing and plasma- and cell activities of the following en zymes were determined: glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), superoxide dismutase ( SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione transfera se (GT). The concentrations of non-enzyme molecules such as total glutathio ne in both oxidized and reduced forms and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. The obtained values were compared with those in healthy blood donors of com parable age and social status. The results indicate that chronic renal pati ents have lower glutathione levels and reduced activities of glutathione pe roxidase and of glutathione reductase while exhibiting elevated levels of m alonyldialdehyde and activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione transf erase and catalase. Finally, creatinine clearing was found to be correlated (p < 0.001) to total (oxidized and reduced) glutathione, Gpx and MDA. Thes e observations may serve to establish a simple protocol for evaluation of r enal function.