Abstract
The impact of involuntary exposure to antineoplastic drugs (AD) was studied in a group of nurses in diverse hospitals in Mexico. The results were compared with a group of unexposed nurses. Anthropometric characteristics and the biochemical analysis were analyzed in both groups. Also, lipid peroxidation level (LPX), protein carbonyl content (PCC), and activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were evaluated in blood of study participants as oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers. The group of occupationally exposed (OE) nurses consisted of 30 individuals ranging in age from 25 to 35 years. The control group included 30 nurses who were not occupationally exposed to the preparation and handling of AD and whose anthropometric and biochemical characteristics were similar to those of the OE group. All biomarkers evaluated were significantly increased (P < 0.5) in OE nurses compared to the control group. Results show that the assessment of OS biomarkers is advisable in order to evaluate exposure to AD in nurses.
Highlights
antineoplastic drugs (AD) have been reported to induce oxidative stress (OS) as a mechanism of toxicity
There is a group of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), CAT, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase which inhibit oxyradical formation aiding in the process of detoxification of these substances in the body [1, 2]
The transversal and multicentric study was conducted on occupationally exposed (OE) nurses regarding preparation and handling of AD and nurses unexposed to these conditions, who work in different hospitals in the state of Mexico including the Centro Oncologico Estatal ISSEMyM, DIF Children’s Hospital, Clinic 220 of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), and ISSEMyM Mother and Child Hospital in the city of Toluca, as well as the IMSS Family Medicine Unit 231 in Metepec
Summary
AD have been reported to induce OS as a mechanism of toxicity. Free radicals formed during this process interaction with macromolecules to induce LPX, as well as oxidation of proteins and of puric and pyrimidine bases of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Health care workers should receive formal training so that, besides being aware of the risk involved, they can minimize it with appropriate work methods. Exposure of health professionals to this type of pharmaceuticals depends on the number of preparations performed each day and on individual work procedures as well as the precautions taken in handling these agents. The lack of a centralized unit for formal training in the preparation and handling of AD implies a lower level of protection against the potential toxicity of these agents
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