Aim: To assess activity of oxidation and function of cell antioxidant system in hypertensive patients.
Materials and methods: 24 hypertensive patients (AP 140-180/95-114 mm Hg) were examined before and 4 weeks after standard therapy for plasmic levels of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reacting products (TBARP), lipid peroxides (LP), total oxidant activity (TOA), total antioxidant activity (TAA) in red cells, activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. A control group consisted of 16 healthy volunteers matched for age and sex.
Results: The patients had very high TAA and TBARP while the antioxidant status was subnormal. TOA/TAA was higher than in the controls. Clinically effective therapy with basic antihypertensive drugs lowered the oxidant activity and raised the antioxidant status while TOA/TAA index remained elevated.
Conclusion: Hypertensive patients are exposed to apparent oxidant stress caused by imbalance between adaptive potential of intracellular enzyme antioxidant defense and activity of free radical processes. It is suggested that in pathogenesis of essential hypertension insufficiency of antioxidant enzymes results in development of chronic oxidant stress.