ABSTRACT
We report on the prooxidant (lipid peroxides) and antioxidant levels (ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutate activity) in healthy individuals (30) and patients with cirrhosis (37; 22 alcoholic cirrhosis and 15 non alcoholic cirrhosis). A significant increase in plasma lipid peroxide (P < 0.05) and ascorbic acid (P < 0.01) and a significant decrease in reduced glutathione (P < 0.001) and superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.05) in haemolysate was observed in cirrhosis patients compared to the control group. A significant decrease in reduced glutathione (P < 0.01) and superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05) activity was also observed when the alcoholic cirrhosis group was compared to non alcoholic group. A significant increase in aspartate transaminase (P < 0.05), gamma glutamyl transaminase (P < 0.01) and aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase (P < 0.05) ratio was seen in alcoholic cirrhosis group. A significant positive correlation between gamma glutamyl transferase and lipid peroxides (r = 0.48, P < 0.05) was observed in alcoholic cirrhosis.