[Superoxide dismutase in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis]

The use or antioxidants as drugs that may control the inflammatory process recently has become widely studied in adults. One of the most important components or antioxidant barrier in humans is enzyme superoxide dismutase. Experimental treatment with superoxide dismutase proved to be effective in animals. THE AIM of the present study was to estimate the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in patients with rheumatoid disease of childhood -- juvenile idiopathic arthritis and to analyse it in different clinical aspects of the disease including its activity, course and time of duration.

A group of 70 children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, age from 3 to 18 years, patients of Rheumatologic Hospital in Sopot was examined in years 1996-2001. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis was diagnosed according to the International League Against Rheumatism classification (Durban 1997). The control group consisted of 29 healthy children age from 3 to 18 years. Superoxide dismutase activity was determined in full, heparinised blood with the use of spectrophotometric method or Randox. The study was accepted by the Local Committee of Ethics.

A statistically significant increase in superoxide dismutase activity was found in group of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis compared to the control group. In the polyarticular form of disease the activity of superoxide dismutase was also significantly higher than in the control group.

In course of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, differently from rheumatoid arthritis of adults, superoxide dismutase activity seems to be stimulated in the majority of cases, so the treatment with exogenous superoxide dismutase may not be effective.