THE EVIDENCE OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN CARDIAC-SURGERY AND SEPTIC PATIENTS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

In present study, lipid peroxidation products (thiobarbituric acid rea ctive substances (TEARS) and diene conjugates (DC)) and markers of blo od antioxidant status (serum antioxidative capacity (AOC) and red bloo d cells glutathione (RBC-GSH)) were measured to compare the extent of oxidative stress in 12 cardiac surgery and 10 septic general surgery p atients. In heart surgery, arterial TEARS were significantly increased 15 min after the start and 15 min after cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass, while AOC at these times was decreased. Eighteen hours after s urgery all parameters, except antioxidative capacity, had returned to preoperative levels. In septic patients, the preoperative level of lip id peroxidation was significantly higher and antioxidative capacity lo wer than in heart surgery patients. Surgery had no influence on oxidat ive stress markers in this group of patients. Increase in lipid peroxi dation and reduction in blood antioxidant capacity, induced either by sepsis or cardiopulmonary bypass, were of comparable extent. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.