ABSTRACT
Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) plays an important role in scavenging reactive oxygen metabolites and preventing the oxidative stress in the body. The purpose of this study is to investigate the levels of erythrocytic GPx activity and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) in 25 chronic renal failure patients compared with 25 normal controls. The GPx activity in chronic renal failure patients was significantly lower than controls (22.6 + 5.5 U/gHb as 30.5 + 9.5 U/gHb respectively, p = 0.0033) and plasma malondialdehyde was significantly high in chronic renal failure patients compared to controls (78.89 + 55.38 ตmol/l vs 7.71 + 3.26 ตmol/l respec-tively, p< 0.0001). Lipid peroxidation product (MDA) correlated significantly with hemoglobin, hematorit, serum creatinine and creatinine clearance. Glutathione peroxidase also correlated significantly with serum creztinine. It was concluded that a decrease in reactive oxygen metabolite scavngers and increase in lipid peroxidation might contribute to might contribute to increase hemolysis and anemia in chronic renal failure.