INFLUENCE OF OZONE ON HEMOGLOBIN OXYGEN-AFFINITY IN TYPE-2 DIABETIC-PATIENTS WITH PERIPHERAL VASCULAR-DISEASE - IN-VITRO STUDIES

The use of ozone in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is increasing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect o f ozone on haemoglobin oxygen affinity in Type-2 diabetic patients wit h PVD. Twenty diabetic patients presenting with PVD (Clinical stage It -IV according to Fontaine) and 20 non-diabetic healthy matched subject s were studied. In both groups, aliquots of blood were ozonised with m ixtures of oxygen-ozone (O-2-O-3) to reach end-concentrations of 6.5, 13, 26 and 78 mu g O-3 per mi of substrate. Ar baseline, diabetic pati ents presented significantly lower haemoglobin oxygen affinity values but higher plasma levels of free haemoglobin and malonyldialdephyde (M DA) than controls. In both diabetic patients and controls, exposure of blood to ozone reduced haemoglobin oxygen affinity in an ''all-or-non e'' fashion, without changing 2-3, diphosphoglycerate concentrations i n erythrocytes. Both free haemoglobin and MDA concentrations showed si gnificant, dose-dependent increases after blood ozonisation. Thus, ozo ne caused a significant increase in oxygen unloading of haemoglobin in both normal subjects and Type-P diabetic patients with PVD.