ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate thiol-disulfide balance in patients with renal colic who were frequently referred to emergency services and also to discuss its potential clinical use. Blood samples were obtained from 32 patients diagnosed with renal colic before treatment in the emergency department. Then, the serum thiol-disulfide levels were measured using a novel method. The patients also underwent a complete blood count test and renal ultrasonography. The thiol-disulfide values were compared statistically between the patient [those with renal colic] and control groups [healthy volunteers]. The mean native thiol level was significantly less in the patient group than in the control group. In addition, the disulfide/ native thiol and disulfide/total thiol ratios were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group [P < 0.05]. This study found a significant difference in the thiol-disulfide balance of patients with renal colic compared with healthy volunteers. The mean native thiol and total thiol levels decreased in the patient group. It is believed that these markers may be indicative of inflammation in patients with renal colic.
ABSTRACT
Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a chronic autoinflammatory condition characterized by fever attacks and recurrent polyserositis. Subclinical inflammation that persists during attack-free periods can result in oxidative stress (OS) damage. Thiol groups bind to reactive oxygen radicals and protect cells and tissues from OS damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between thiol-disulfide balance and colchicine resistance in FMF patients during an attack or attack-free period. A newly developed spectrophotometric method was used to measure native thiol (NT) and disulfide (DS) levels in FMF patients and an age-sex matched group of healthy controls. NT and DS levels were compared in FMF patients 1) with vs. without colchicine resistance; and 2) during an attack (FMF-AP) vs. attack-free period (FMF-AFP). A total of 118 FMF patients and 60 healthy controls were studied. NT (P < 0.001) and total thiol (TT) (P < 0.001) levels in FMF patients were significantly lower compared to healthy controls. NT (P = 0.030) and TT (P = 0.010) levels of FMF-AP patients were significantly lower than that of FMF-AFP patients. FMF-AP patients had significantly higher DS levels than FMF-AFP patients (P = 0.039). Compared to FMF patients without colchicine resistance, elevated levels of DS (P = 0.019) but not NT (P = 0.620) and TT (P = 0.718) were found in those with colchicine resistance. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis is altered in FMF patients during an attack period and this imbalance may be associated with colchicine resistance.