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Malondialdehyde and antioxidant enzymes in children with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy
Zeynep Nil Doğruer1, Murat Unal, Gülçin Eskandari
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
Insights
Oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity are altered in children with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Tonsillectomy improved these markers, suggesting a role for free radicals in the condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Biochemistry
- Oxidative Stress Research
Background:
- Free radical-induced tissue damage is linked to various diseases.
- Obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children may involve oxidative processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of free radicals and antioxidant enzymes in children with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
- To assess changes in oxidative stress markers before and after adenotonsillectomy.
Main Methods:
- Compared 29 children with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy to 51 controls.
- Measured malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), and catalase (CAT) activities pre- and post-tonsillectomy.
Main Results:
- MDA levels and SOD and GSHPx activities were significantly higher pre-tonsillectomy compared to post-tonsillectomy.
- CAT activity showed no significant difference between pre- and post-tonsillectomy periods.
Conclusions:
- Oxidant and antioxidant defense mechanisms are altered in children with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
- Adenotonsillectomy appears to improve these altered mechanisms.
Objective:
Free radical induced tissue damage has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases. We aimed to investigate the role of free radicals and scavenging enzymes in children with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
Materials And Methods:
The study consisted of 29 children with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy and 51 control subjects with similar age and sex. All the patients and/or their parents had complaints of snoring, mouth breathing, and pausing of breath during sleep for at least 6 months. All patients underwent an adenotonsillectomy operation under general anesthesia with curettage and cold dissection methods. Venous blood was taken preoperatively and 4 weeks postoperatively. After collection of blood samples into citrate (3.5 mg/ml blood) containing glass tubes, erythrocyte sediments were prepared for the analyses. Then malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), and catalase (CAT) activities were measured.
Results:
The levels of MDA and activities of SOD and GSHPx were significantly higher in the pre-tonsillectomy period than in the post-tonsillectomy period. However, CAT activity was not different in pre- and postoperative period.
Conclusion:
Our study supports the notion that oxidant and antioxidant defense mechanisms are altered in children with obstructive adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and this alteration improves after tonsillectomy.

