[Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Antioxidant Enzyme Assay in Erythrocytes of Patients with End Stage Renal Disease Treated with Hemodialysis]

Anemia is one of the main complications seen in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with hemodialysis. We hypothesized that oxidative stress and decrease of antioxidant defense enzyme activity may be major causes underlying functional insufficiency of erythrocytes. Blood samples of 16 patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis were investigated. All patients received Recormon for treatment of anemia. In spite of effective hemodialysis procedures cleared patient blood the erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GP) were lower than in healthy controls and hemodialysis procedure insignificantly influenced enzyme activities. After 6 months repeated study of the erythrocyte enzymes revealed further decrease of SOD and GP activities.