| Abstract: | Aim: Although the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is likely to be multifactorial, the inflammatory nature of SLE implies that a state of oxidative stress may exist in this disease, which may contribute to immune cell dysfunction, auto‐antigen production and auto‐antibody reactivity. This study was conducted to investigate the oxidant/antioxidant status of patients with SLE and to correlate this with disease activity. Methods: Sixteen clinically active, 12 clinically inactive SLE patients and 11 healthy controls were included into the study and antioxidant potential (AOP), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), adenosine deaminase (ADA), malondialdehyde (MDA), and xanthine oxidase (XO) activity levels in erythrocytes and AOP, GSH‐Px, MDA, and XO activity levels in plasma were measured. Results: In erythrocytes; AOP was higher in SLE patients (both active and inactive), CAT activity was higher in inactive SLE patients, GSH‐Px, SOD and XO activity were lower in SLE patients (active and inactive) than the control group. In plasma; SLE patients (active and inactive) had higher AOP levels, activity of GSH‐Px was lower in SLE groups (active and inactive), activity of MDA was lower in active SLE patients, and activity of XO was higher in the active SLE patients than the control group. Conclusion: Antioxidant status was impaired in SLE patients but there was no significant difference between the active and inactive SLE groups, so oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE but probably is not correlated with disease activity. |
