ERYTHROCYTE SELENIUM GLUTATHIONE-PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IS LOWER IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS

To obtain further insight into the role of erythrocyte antioxidant sys tems in the development of atherosclerosis, intraerythrocyte enzyme ac tivities and selenium levels in erythrocytes were determined in 37 pat ients with angiographically proved coronary artery stenosis and 15 sub jects with normal coronary angiograms as controls. In a preliminary st udy, tile enzymatic activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G 6PD), glutathione reductase (GR) and selenium-dependent glutathione pe roxidase (Se-GPx) were measured in both venous and arterial blood samp les obtained from patients before angiography. The data of the prelimi nary study, which showed that only the Se-GPx decreased in the patient s, led us to concentrate on the Se-GPx and Se levels to determine the changes in these variables. Our results showed that there was a decrea se in both the activity of Se-GPx and Se levels in erythrocytes parall el to the increase in the severity of coronary artery disease. It was concluded that these parameters might be used as determinants in the a ssessment of the severity of the disease.