Total antioxidant status and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in rheumatoid arthritis patients

ABSTRACT

This study included 54 patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA], 20 patients with osteoarthritis [OA] not receiving medication and 26 apparently healthy subjects as a control group. All groups were tested for total antioxidant status, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels, where the active rheumatoid arthritis group showed decreased levels of these antioxidants compared with the other groups. The results of the present study confirmed the supposition of an increased oxidative stress in the active rheumatoid arthritis patients and low erythrocyte antioxidant levels in terms of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activities and plasma total antioxidant status and their association with an increased rheumatic activity. The study recommended the usage of antioxidant drugs as therapeutic agents. Also, the monitoring of total antioxidant status, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels might be helpful when assessing the therapeutic efficacy of anti-rheumatic drugs