[The antioxidant systems in rheumatoid polyarthritis]

The inflammatory process from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is marked by complexity, maintenance and destruction. The inflammatory lesions are induced by oxygen free radicals, that have a great capacity of destruction. We studied 52 patients with RA (defined by ARA criteria--1987). We have observed the inflammatory rheumatic syndrome, humoral and cellular immune syndrome and the antioxidant systems, i.e.: superoxidedismutaze, glutathione and its fractions, glutathione peroxidase, the total SH groups. We have observed the decrease of the glutathione in 40% of patients and the decrease of the total SH groups in 65% of patients. The total SH groups are correlated with the severe forms of the disease. Superoxide dismutase had decrease values in 85% of cases. We have remarked that the treatment with corticosteroids and D-penicillamina improved the serum levels of the glutathione and total SH groups.