[Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant potential in patients with cervical spinal cord injury]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the intensity of oxygen-derived free radicals generation (expressed as the lipid peroxidation process), as well as antioxidant potential changes in patients with cervical spinal cord injury. Subjects in the study were 32 patients treated in the Neurosurgery and Neurotraumatology Clinic, Medical University in Bydgoszcz. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and conjugated dienes (CD) level in the patients' blood plasma and erythrocytes, as well as their plasma antioxidant potential in reaction with a stable free radical--1.1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl were assayed. Intensification of the lipid peroxidation process as well as a decrement of plasma antioxidant potential were found in the patients with cervical spinal cord injury. A strong correlation was also shown between severity of cervical spinal cord injury assessed using the ASIA impairment scale on the one hand and intensification of the lipid peroxidation process and plasma antioxidant potential decrease on the other hand.