Oxidative stress and antioxidant status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
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.
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.