ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to assess the lipid peroxidation [LPO] and antioxidant status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with osteoarthritis. This study included 30 RA, 30 OA patients and 15 healthy subjects. Parameters of activity of RA patients and clinical parameters of OA patients were assessed. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C reactive protein [CRP], serum malondialdehyde [MDA], the activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase [SOD] and catalase [CAT], glutathione [GSH] level, plasma glutathione-S-transferase [GST] activity and ceruloplasmin [Cp] level were measured. Increased MDA, plasma GST activity and Cp levels with reduction of the activities of SOD, CAT and GSH levels were demonstrated in RA and OA patients. A positive correlation was detected between the clinical and laboratory parameters in both RA and OA patients with GST and Cp. A direct correlation was found between previous parameters and serum MDA in RA. Meanwhile, a negative correlation was observed between these parameters with erythrocyte SOD, CAT activities and GSH level. Direct correlation also existed between MDA and GST with Cp, between erythrocyte SOD with CAT activities and negative correlations of GST activity with GSH level. Increased oxidative stress in RA and OA patients have led to compensatory changes in the levels of antioxidants. These changes provide additional protection against LPO. These findings confirm the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of RA and OA, and that LPO markers and antioxidants can serve as surrogate markers for disease activity