The relationship between the pro-oxidant and antioxidant system status of patients with multiple myeloma and the disease stage.

Abstract

Disturbances of the erythrocyte antioxidant system presented by LPO intensification were detected in patients with multiple myeloma. Plasma concentrations of MDA in these patients were close to normal due to effective work of the nonenzymatic antioxidant system. Activities of antioxidant enzymes in the plasma were reduced, while catalase activity was high, and ceruloplasmin content did not differ from the control, this indicating suppression of the enzymatic component of the antioxidant system. In erythrocytes, the level of reduced glutathione was low, especially at stage III of the disease. Changes in SOD and catalase activities were similar to those in the plasma, while activities of glutathione-dependent enzymes were comparable to those in normal human erythrocytes.