[The clinical significance of the enzymatic system utilizing active forms of oxygen in chronic liver diseases]

The activity of antioxidant defense enzymes and lipid peroxidation (LPO) was studied in the liver and blood of 126 patients with hepatobiliary diseases. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in the liver appeared inhibited and relevant interactions impaired. Catalase/peroxidase value in hepatic cirrhosis proved minimal. In response to hepatotropic drugs red cell SOD decreased, while glutathione and ceruloplasmin levels became elevated. Blood LPO values were adequate indicators of the disease progression. It is shown that deficient antioxidant defense of the liver in chronic affections contributes to oxygen radical formation which promotes pathological processes in the liver.