Oxidative stress in systemic sclerosis

In 63 patients affected by Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) (limited subset., 40; d iffuse subset: 23; early: 30; advanced: 33) the peroxidation product diene- conjugates (DC) and antibodies against oxidised low density lipoproteins (A b oxLDL) were tested in serum by a spectrophotometer (absorbance 234 mn) an d by a standard ELISA respectively. The data were compared with those obtai ned by 21 healthy subjects. DC was significantly higher in patients (73.3 /- 37.2 mu M/l; p < 0.0001) than in controls (48.4 +/- 16.7) as well as in the limited (80 +/- 48.8; p < 0.05) than in the diffuse subset (64.5 +/- 36 .4); and in early (84.1 +/- 31.4; p < 0.05) than in advanced stage of the d isease (67.9 +/- 42.5). The levels Ab oxLDL were significantly higher in SS c patients (309.5 +/- 367.2 mU/ml; p < 0.0001) in all its subsets (limited: 351.9 +/- 351.1, p < 0.0001; diffuse: 207.7 +/- 316. 1, p < 0.05; early: 4 28.9 +/- 417.1, p < 0.001; advanced: 302.7 +/- 89.9, p < 0.0001) than in co ntrols (89.3 +/- 29.1). These antibodies levels were higher in limited subs et than in diffuse (p < 0.05) and in early SSc than in advanced SSc (p < 0. 05). The highest values of parameters of oxidative stress are found in the early stages, when the episodes of reperfusion after ischemic episodes (Ray naud's phenomenon) are very ferequent. Moreover, the damage is higher in th e early stages of SSc, with intact microvessels, than in late stages, when microvessels are very reduced in number, destroyed by the worsening of the disease. These radicals products works as well in other diseases such as my ocardial ischemia and pulmonary fibrosis. These data show that the respirat ory burst deduced their lipoperoxidation is higher in SSc than in controls, may be an important pathogenetic factors involved in tissue changes in SSc .