Erythrocytic glutathione peroxidase and lipid peroxidation in chronic renal failure patients.

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.

Role of lipid peroxidation, trace elements and anti-oxidant enzymes in chronic renal disease patients.

Plasma Selenium (Se), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu) and Aluminium (Al) levels, red blood cell vitamin E and antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase activity were studied in 54 patients with renal diseases of different levels of kidney dysfunction. Group I (serum creatinine < 2 mg/dl), Group II (serum creatinine 2-4 mg/dl), Group III (serum creatinine 4.1-8 mg/dl), Group IV (serum creatinine 8.1-12 mg/dl) Group V (serum creatinine > 12 mg/dl); thirty two healthy subjects are controls. Plasma Zn (ug/L) and red blood cell vitamin E (ug/ml PRC) were decreased more significantly than controls (1348.59 +/- 43.72 vs 1318.89 +/- 45.62, and 3.38 +/- 0.45 vs 2.23 +/- 0.52) while plasma Selenium and Copper are within normal ranges. Plasma GSH-PX and catalase activity (IU/ml PRC) were also decreased (28.26 +/- 9.01 vs 20.48 +/- 6.79 and 7.54 +/- 1.91 vs 6.52 +/- 2.31) more significantly than controls. Lipid peroxidation products, plasma (umol/L) and urine malonaldehyde (MDA, umol/Ccr) were elevated (7.29 +/- 3.39 vs 92.94 +/- 61.66, and 32.08 +/- 24.60 vs 246.14 +/- 325.66) significantly (p < 0.0001). The lipid peroxidation abnormalities were seen in patients with normal renal function, which supports the role of oxidative stress early in the course of renal disease. Urine ammonia per GFR was also increased as well as urine B2m and NAG. There was no correlation between lipid peroxidation product (MDA) and any of the antioxidant enzymes, vitamin E, urine NH3, B2m, protein or NAG except urine ammonia and MDA per nephron which correlate with severity of kidney dysfunction which confirmed the role of complex processes in the progression of chronic renal failure. The early intervention to decrease oxygen consumption either by dietary protein restriction antioxidants such as vitamin E supplement or calcium channels blockers may be of value in preserving renal function in the setting of chronic renal failure.

Use of serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase to differentiate between extrahepatic biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis.

The differentiation between extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) and neonatal hepatitis (NH) was studied in 53 Thai infants (39 males, 14 females) with obstructive cholangiopathy at the Department of Pediatrics, Siriraj hospital. Prevalence of EHBA was 25 per cent (13 of 15) overall. A higher prevalence of EHBA was found in females (8 of 13) while a higher prevalence of NH occurred in males (34 of 40). No difference was demonstrated in serum conjugated and total bilirubin, SGOT or alkaline phosphatase between EHBA and NH groups. The EHBA group had a significantly higher mean serum GGTP (184 +/- 77 IU/L) than the NH group (58 +/- 40 IU/L). The diagnostic usefulness of GGTP was confirmed, but variation in laboratory measurements could limit its generalizability.

Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and alkaline phosphatase activities in normal and hepatic disorders.

Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-glutamyl transferase EC 2.3.2.2) and alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) activities from 115 adults with various hepatic diseases were compared to 200 normal adults. Although the values of both enzymes are significantly above normal in the same liver disorders, the first enzyme is much more sensitive in liver cirrhosis. The two enzymes are correlated very well (r = 0.648, p < 0.0005) in hepatic patients.