Antioxidative enzymes activity and malondialdehyde concentration during mitoxantrone therapy in multiple sclerosis...

Mitoxantrone (MX) is approved for the treatment of aggressive relapsing-remitting, secondary-progressive and progressive-relapsing form of multiple sclerosis (MS). The mechanism of its action is multiaxial, however, it is not free from side effects. The causes of the side effects are still unknown and require further investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of MX therapy on enzymatic parameters of endogenous antioxidative status: manganese and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (MnSOD, Cu/ZnSOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and lipid peroxidation marker--malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients suffering from MS. After the MX therapy serum and the CSF MDA concentrations increased significantly. We reported that MnSOD activities decrease in serum and the CSF, while, surprisingly, the serum Cu/ZnSOD activity increases after the MX therapy. We also noted a marked decrease in CSF CAT and GSH-Px activity after the MX treatment. Our results strongly suggest the influence of MX therapy on oxidation/antioxidation status of serum and the CSF. These findings open up new opportunities for a better understanding of underlying physiopathological events in MS and provide a new insight into MX's mechanisms of action, especially its potent side effects.