OXIDATIVE STRESS AND TRACE ELEMENTS IN PROTEINURIC PATIENTS

After having shown decreased red cell deformability in proteinuric patients we planned this experimental study, in order to investigate a possible role of free oxygen radicals and the antioxidant system. Twelve proteinuric patients were compared with 20 age and sex-matched healty controls. Erythrocyte and plasma malonyldialdehyde, erythrocyte glutathione, erythrocyte glutathione reductase, erythrocyte sodiumdismutase and erythrocyte peroxidase activities were measured.

Because of a possible effect of trace elements on the metalloenzyme activities zinc, copper and iron levels in blood and urine were determined. It is suggested that the red cell deformability was decreased because of increased malonyldialdehyde levels and decreased activity of the antioxidant system, may be due to high loss of urinary trace elements.