Selenium, glutathione peroxidases, and some other antioxidant parameters in blood of patients with chronic renal failure

In the present study several parameters associated with oxidative stress were examined in the blood of 25 chronic renal failure (CRF) patients and the results were compared with 18 healthy subjects. Mean creatinine concentration in patients was 1216 ± 292 μmol/l. Selenium (Se) concentration in red cells, whole blood and in plasma of CRF patients (106 ± 32.5, 59.0 ± 16.7 and 42.4 ± 13.8 ng/ml, respectively) was significantly (0.0001 < P < 0.01) lower (by 20–42%) compared with the controls. Red cell and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities (16.6 ± 3.4 U/g Hb and 93.7 ± 32.9 U/l plasma) were lower by 12 and 53% (P < 0.05 and < 0.0001, respectively) in patients than in healthy subjects. GSH concentration in red cells of patients (2.81 ± 0.45 mmol/l) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher (by 20%) than in control group. Malonyldialdehyde (MDA) concentration (expressed as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances) in red cells of patients (725 ± 155 nmol/g Hb) was significantly (P < 0.001) higher (by 28%) than in control group. No significant difference was observed in the activity of superoxide dismutase in plasma between the two groups. In conclusion, our results confirm that the alterations in Se levels in blood components and in GSH-Px activity in plasma show that the kidney plays an important role in Se homeostasis and in plasma GSH-Px synthesis.