Abstract:

Objective To observe the parameters of oxidative stress in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), and to evaluate the clinical significance primarily. Methods A total of 108 HHcy patients and 106 healthy subjects (healthy control group) were enrolled for determining the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and the levels of homocysteine (Hcy), nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The correlations of Hcy with GSH-Px, SOD, PON1, NOS, NO and MDA were analyzed. Results The MDA level in patients with HHcy [(6.23±1.55) μmol/L] was higher than that in healthy control group [(4.14±1.13) μmol/L](P<0.01). The GSH-Px [(189.3±25.1) U/L], SOD [(77.3±20.5) NU/mL], PON1 [(133.6±23.9) kU/L], NOS [(25.3±2.9) U/mL] and NO [(68.3±10.1) μmol/L] in patients with HHcy were lower than those in healthy control group [(240.3±78.1) U/L, (89.2±24.8) NU/mL, (168.2±26.0) kU/L, (30.0±3.3) U/mL and (92.1±12.1) μmol/L] (P<0.01). The correlation of Hcy with MDA was positive, and negative with GSH-Px, SOD, PON1, NOS and NO (r＝－0.60, -0.49, -0.51, -0.43 and -0.50, P<0.01). Conclusions Oxidative stress in patients with HHcy is related with pro-oxidant and antioxidant imbalance, Hcy impairment NO/L-arginine system and antioxidase activity defense systems. Hcy plays a role in the pathogenesis and development of atherosclerosis by increasing the oxidative stress and decreasing the ability of antioxidation.

Key words: Oxidative stress, Hyperhomocysteinemia, Paraoxonase 1