The objective of this study was to evaluate the oxidant and antioxidant status in living donor renal allograft transplant recipients. Ninety-two renal transplant recipients with mean age of 34.75 ± 11.22 years were included in the present study. Venous samples of the recipients were drawn: before the transplant (baseline), 5 min after reperfusion, and 2 weeks after transplant. Samples were processed for the measurement of markers of oxidant and antioxidant status viz. malondialdehyde, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, ascorbic acid, and total antioxidant system. The mean baseline levels of reduced glutathione, ascorbic acid, and total antioxidant system were 1.61 ± 0.84 mg/g hemoglobin, 3.64 ± 1.49 mg/dL, and 1.42 ± 0.14 mmol/L which decreased at 5 min after reperfusion to 1.32 ± 0.72 (p = 0.010), 2.96 ± 1.25 (p = 0.002), and 1.36 ± 0.12 (p = 0.042), respectively. The malondialdehyde levels increased from a baseline value of 3.11 ± 1.02 µmol/mL to 3.32 ± 1.09 at 5 min after reperfusion (p = 0.344) and 4.01 ± 1.21 (p = 0.000) at 2 weeks. Glutathione peroxidase level decreased from 68.59 ± 32.79 units/g hemoglobin (baseline) to 63.65 ± 32.92 at 5 min after reperfusion (p = 0.530) and increased significantly at 2 weeks to 86.38 ± 37.18 (p = 0.00). There was no significant change in the catalase level. In living donor renal transplantation, oxidative stress starts after reperfusion and is reflected by fall in antioxidant factors and enzymes in the early period. Over the next 2 weeks, there is increased oxidative stress and simultaneous strengthening of antioxidant system which is implied by increase in malondialdehyde and improvement in the markers of antioxidant status.
Keywords: Antioxidants; Lipid peroxidation; Malondialdehyde; Oxidative stress; Renal transplant.