The State of the Antioxidant System in Chronic Hepatitis C

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis of viral etiology ranks very high in human pathology with respect to its socio-economic and medical significance. In viral hepatitis, membrane destruction occurs via the processes of lipoperoxidation, a valid factor that triggers the mechanism of hepatocyte necrosis. The glutathione system is also involved in the first line of cell defense actions against the effect of the free radicals. In this study, 128 patients with Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) were examined. The degree of antioxidant defense was determined by the indicators of the activity of the glutathione and glutathione-dependent enzymes. The total, reduced and oxidized glutathione levels were determined by V. G. Chernishov. The activity of the glutathione-dependent enzymes, viz., glutathione peroxidase (GP), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione transferase (GT) was measured by the method prescribed by S. N. Vlasova and co-authors (1990). The results of the investigations performed revealed that in CHC patients, deep-seated disorders were observed in the glutathione system manifested by a decrease in the total glutathione levels, its oxidized and reduced forms, changes in the glutathione enzymes and the interrelationships between the intensity of the changes and the degree of the intoxication syndrome.

Keywords

• hepatitis C;
• glutathione;
• glutathione-dependent enzymes.