Serum and Ascitic Fluid Superoxide Dismutase and Malondialdehyde Levels in Patients with Cirrhosis

Abstract

Serum and ascitic fluid superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in 43 patients with cirrhosis and in a 10 healthy control group. Compensated cirrhotic patients had no clinically detectable ascites, but decompensated patients had massive ascites. Cirrhotic patients were divided into three groups: patients with compensated cirrhosis (n = 16), patients with decompensated cirrhosis with Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) (n = 14), and patients with decompensated cirrhosis without SBP (n = 13). All cirrhotic patients in the experimental group had significantly higher serum SOD (p 0.05). These results suggest that the increase in serum SOD and MDA levels are not related to the presence of SBP and the status of liver cirrhosis. To sum up, clarifying the impact of increased serum SOD and MDA levels in cirrhotic patients needs further investigation.