Superoxide radical concentration and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity in varicose veins

The aim of this study is to measure the level of both the superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme and its substrate, superoxide radicals, in the wall of varicose veins. A total of 44 vein specimens were collected from 24 patients who underwent surgery for varicose veins at Asir Central Hospital (ACH), Abha, Saudi Arabia during the period from October 1999 to November 2000. The patients were 4 males and 20 females with a mean age of 35.3+/-SD 10.4 years (15-62 years). At operation, vein specimens were collected from both the stripped, mid-thigh long saphenous vein (LSV) and the avulsed distal calf varicosities, as appropriate. The samples were processed and both the SOD level and the superoxide radicals concentration were estimated using spectrophotometry. The mean SOD level in the distal calf varicosities (14.7+/-6.0 units/mg protein) was significantly higher than that in the mid-thigh LSV (8.2+/-2.9 units/mg protein, P<0.05). The mean superoxide radical concentration in the distal calf varicosities (69.5+/-11.9 nmol/ml) was also significantly higher than that in the mid-thigh LSV (33.8+/-10.5 nmol/ml, P<0.05). These results suggest that superoxide radicals play an important role in the pathogenesis of varicose veins.