ABSTRACT
Uremic toxin retained in the blood of chronic renal failure patients could affect the glutathione defense system against peroxides. Twenty uremic patients who are maintained on regular hemodialysis are selected and twenty four reference subjects saved as a control. The following parameters are measured in whole blood and erythrocyte pre and post-dialysis: glutathione levels [GSH], glutathione Stransferase [GST] glutathione reeductase [GSR], total and selenium glutathione peroxidase [GSH-PX] and lipid peroxidation [MDA]. The results showed severe depletion of glutathione, inhibition of GSH-Px and GSR, rise in GST and MDA contents. Dialysis could not completely revert these changes. Therefore uremia may impair the defense mechanism against free radical mediated injury