Authors : Manju Chandankhede, Madhur Gupta
Volume : 4
Issue : 2
Year : 2013
Page No : 3088-3090
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease affecting around 1% of the world's population leading to autoimmune arthritis. Though the exact etiology of RA remains unknown, various environmental and biological triggers have been suspected. The most important factor which is implicated in the pathogenesis of RA is oxidative stress. However the exact relationship between antioxidants and lipid peroxidation is not yet known in patients of RA. Hence the case control study was conducted in 50 patients of rheumatoid arthritis (Group II) diagnosed by criteria's recommended by American Rheumatology Association were compared with age and sex matched 50 normal healthy controls (GroupI). Malondialdehyde (MDA) a marker of oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured by enzymatic spectrophotometric method. MDA levels was significantly increased (p< 0.01) in RA patients as compared to controls. The concentrations of GPx and SOD were significantly lower in RA patients as compared to normal healthy adults. Our findings indicate that oxidative stress does occur in patients RA patients. Treatment with antioxidant therapy to limit the disease process of RA patients needs to be assessed.