BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the present study was to investigate possible i
nvolvement of oxidant stress in the anemia of cirrhotic patients and to ass
ess blood antioxidant status of these patients.
METHODOLOGY: Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)
enzyme activities were measured in the erythroctes from patients with live
r cirrhosis and from controls. Levels of thiobarbituric acid reagent substa
nce were also measured in the erythrocyte (TBARSe) and plasma (TBARSp) samp
les of the groups.
RESULTS: Lower activities of SOD and GSH-Px were established in the erythro
cytes from patients compared with control subjects. No differences were fou
nd between erythrocyte TEARS levels of control and patient groups. Plasma T
BARS levels were, however, found to be significantly higher in the patient
groups compared with controls.
CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that although enzymatic antioxidant defense sy
stem is significantly reduced in the erythrocytes from cirrhotic patients,
this does not lead to further peroxidative reactions in the erythrocytes, p
ossibly due to preoxidation of some cellular structures sensitive to peroxi
dative attacks. There was, however, an important indication of accelerated
peroxidative reactions in the plasma of the cirrhotic patients, which possi
bly resulted from extracellular oxidant stress in these patients.