Impaired antioxidant status in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Abstract EN

Objective : to measure the level of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of oxidative stress of the activity of blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px) and the blood glutathione (GSH) as markers of antioxidant capacity in systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) patients compared with normal control individuals.

Also to detect if there is correlation between these biochemical changes and disease activity and some clinical and laboratory data of SLE patients.

Methodology: twenty five SLE patients and ten healthy controls were subjected to clinical examination, history taking and estimation of (a) serum MDA (nmol / ml), (b) blood GSH level (mg / dL) and blood GSH Px activity (u / L) Results : highly significant increase in serum MDA (p < 0.0001) in SLE patients and statistically significant lower level of blood GSH and GSH Px activity compared to the control group (p < 0.0001).

Disease activity index was positively correlated to MDA serum level and negatively correlated to both blood GSH level and blood GSH Px.

Conclusion : excess production of free radicals as a result of lipid peroxidation and reduction in the antioxidant protection capacity were proved in SLE patients and observed to be more in the presence of some clinical manifestations of SLE.

In addition, MDA serum level, blood GSH content and blood GSH Px activity may be used as useful markers for disease activity in SLE.