Does extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy therapy affect thiol-disulfide homeostasis?

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Nephrology
• Urology

Background:

• Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is a primary non-invasive treatment for upper urinary tract stones.
• Thiol/disulfide homeostasis imbalance, favoring disulfide, is implicated in various disease pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the acute and short-term effects of ESWL on thiol/disulfide homeostasis and albumin structure.
• To assess the impact of ESWL on oxidative stress markers.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples were collected from 36 patients undergoing ESWL at baseline, 6 hours, and 1 week post-procedure.
• Sera thiol/disulfide levels and Ischemia Modified Albumin (IMA) were quantified using automated and colorimetric assays.

Main Results:

• ESWL led to a decrease in native thiol levels and an increase in disulfide ratios (DTT, DNT) and IMA at 6 hours post-treatment.
• These oxidative stress markers returned to baseline levels by 1 week after ESWL.
• Total thiol and native/total thiol ratios remained unchanged throughout the study period.

Conclusions:

• ESWL acutely disrupts thiol/disulfide homeostasis and albumin integrity, elevating protein oxidation and oxidative stress.
• The observed disruption in homeostasis and oxidative stress is a transient phenomenon.
• Biochemical markers return to normal levels within a week, indicating the temporary nature of ESWL's impact.