[Lipid peroxidation in patients with chronic gastritis]

Activity was studied of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in 50 patients with chronic antral gastritis (ChAG) in the phase of exacerbation. Accumulation of products of the oxidation reaction such as conjugated dienes and trienes, tetraenes, together with the total content of oxidated compounds commonly named as oxodienic conjugates indicated LPO activity. A conclusion was reached to the effect that in ChAG during the phase of exacerbation there takes place an activation of LPO in the mucous membrane. A trigger element involving this mechanism of injury is thought to be destructive action of factors of virulence of Helicobacter infection on the epitheliocyte cellular membrane. If the cell antioxidant defence is capable of keeping the LPO processes on a certain increased level the lesion evolves mainly through general degenerative alterations in the gastric epithelium leading to atrophy of the mucous membrane, necessitating supplementing ChAG metabolic therapy at its early stages with cytoprotectors capable of suppressing Helicobacter infection, as well as antioxidants, stimulants of the protein-synthetizing processes, drug preparations improving the microcirculation.