Elevated lipid peroxidation and disturbed antioxidant enzyme activities in plasma and erythrocytes of patients with uterine cervicitis and myoma

Objectives: We investigated whether oxidative stress is associated with human uterine cervicitis and uterine myoma. Design and Methods: We measured lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in plasma and erythrocytes of cervicitis patients and myoma patients in comparison with matched controls. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), a measure of lipid peroxidation, were determined in plasma; glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and catalase in erythrocytes; and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in both plasma and erythrocytes. Results: We showed that plasma TEARS were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in both cervicitis patients and myoma patients than in controls. Plasma TEARS were significantly (and negatively) correlated with plasma and erythrocyte T-SOD activities in cervicitis patients only. Plasma T-SOD activity was significantly lower in both groups of patients than in controls whereas erythrocyte T-SOD activity was only significantly lower in myoma patients. The lowered plasma T-SOD activity in the cervicitis patients was attributed to decreased Mn-SOD activity whereas the lowered plasma T-SOD activity in myoma patients was attributed to decreased activities of both Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD. Erythrocyte GSHPx activity was 14% higher (p < 0.05) in cervicitis patients and 11% lower (p > 0.05) in myoma patients than in controls; catalase activity was 10% higher (p > 0.05) in cervicitis patients and 13% lower (p > 0.05) in myoma patients than in controls. Neither erythrocyte GSHPx nor catalase activity was significantly correlated with plasma TEARS. Conclusions: The elevated lipid peroxidation and disturbed antioxidant enzyme activities demonstrate the potential of oxidative injury in patients with uterine cervicitis and myoma. Copyright (C) 1999 The Canadian society of Clinical Chemists.