Serum and erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity in chronic renal failure.

The activity of serum and erythrocyte glutathione reductase was studied in 66 undialysed uremic patients, 19 patients under treatment by chronic hemodialysis and 38 normal subjects. A statistically significant increase of the enzyme activity was found both in serum and erythrocytes in the uremic patients. This increase was in positive correlation with blood urea and creatinine. No difference has been observed in the enzyme activity before and after hemodialysis. By electrophoresis of the hemolysate in cellulose-acetate the pattern of the isoenzymes of the uremic patients was similar to that of the controls.