Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in patients with viral hepatitis C

Purpose: Aerobic organisms possess antioxidant defense systems that deal with reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced as a consequence of aerobic respiration and substrate oxidation. It is considered that free radicals, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense play a role in various tissue damages, just as in certain types of viral hepatitis. Materials and methods: We determined SOD, CAT, GPX activities of 18 HCV subjects and matched their values with that of 18 healthy volunteers as control. The patients were diagnosed by physicians on the basis of detailed clinical history, clinical examination and other relevant biochemical investigations. Results: SOD, CAT and GPX activities in patients with HCV were found as (mean±SD) 2.75±0.75 U/mg prot, 19.25±3.4 U/g Hbx10 4 , 78.25±23.23 U/g Hb respectively, whereas for the control group 3.76±1.53 U/mg prot, 13.71±1.6 U/g Hbx10 4 , 63.26±6.9 U/g Hb were observed for the respective enzymes. Conclusion: Our results show the mild impact of hepatitis C on antioxidant status of the person. There is a reduction in SOD level but an increase in CAT and GPX levels. In this study also suggests some possible role of oxidative stress in the mechanism of liver injury during viral hepatitis.