Erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes were analysed in 100 patients with intracra
nial neoplasm and in 47 controls. There was a significant decrease in RBC g
lutathione reductase (GRx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in most
types of brain tumor cases. Patients with acoustic neurinoma showed a signi
ficant reduction in selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx) acti
vity, A decrease in catalase (CT) activity was seen in most of the brain tu
mor patients but remained statistically insignificant when compared to cont
rols. A significant increase in plasma ceruloplasmin concentration was obse
rved in patients with glioma. These enzymes were also studied in 27 post-tr
eatment cases, GRx activity returned to normal levels in these patients. RB
C SOD and plasma ceruloplasmin levels showed a tendency to return to normal
. Hence, a marked decrease in the antioxidant enzymes may have a role in th
e genesis of considerable oxidative stress in patients with brain rumors. (
C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.