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Original Article
 

Antioxidant Enzyme Activity and Malondialdehyde Concentration in the Plasma and Erythrocytes of Patients With Urticaria Induced by Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
 

A Kasperska-Zajac,1 Z Brzoza,1 B Rogala,1 R Polaniak,2 E Birkner2

1 Chair and Clinical Department of Internal Diseases, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
2 Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2008; Vol. 18(5): 372-375
 

 Abstract


Background: It has been suggested that oxidative stress is a crucial event in some forms of urticaria.

Aim: To evaluate the blood oxidant/antioxidant profi le of patients suffering from urticaria induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Methods: We measured the activity of the antioxidant enzymes copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT), and the levels of malondialdehyde (a marker of lipid peroxidation) in the plasma and erythrocytes of 12 females with NSAID-induced urticaria and in 19 healthy controls.

Results: The enzyme activity in plasma (CuZn/SOD) and in erythrocytes (CuZn/SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT) did not differ significantly between urticaria patients and controls. Moreover, the levels of malondialdehyde in plasma and erythrocytes did not differ significantly between the 2 groups.

Conclusions: It seems that processes associated with urticaria induced by NSAIDs may not modify antioxidant enzyme activity and may not enhance lipid peroxidation in peripheral blood.

Key words: Lipid peroxidation. Antioxidant enzyme activity. Urticaria. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug intolerance.