[Free radical processes and antioxidant system in depression and treatment efficiency]

Free radical processes and antioxidant systems activities were studied before and after treatment in blood and saliva of 23 depressive patients with ICD-10 diagnosis--6 with depressive episode and 17 with recurrent depression. Compared to control, blood plasma Fe(2+)-rodamine induced chemiluminescence, total peroxidase and catalase activities increased and blood plasma superoxide eliminational activity as well as superoxide dismutase activity in erythrocytes decreased in patients before treatment. At the same time, total peroxidase activity, superoxide eliminational activity and catalase activity were elevated in the patient's saliva. After antidepressant treatment, positive dynamics for many parameters studied was more pronounced in responders. Saliva was shown to be potential biological material for "oxidative stress" assessment and for treatment efficacy evaluation in depression.