Oxygen-free radical have been implicated in a variety of disease
processes including nephrotic syndrome. In this study we investigated the
free radical activation products and antioxidant status in children with
nephrotic syndrome compared with a control group. Serum lipid
peroxides (LP) and selenium levels and red blood cell glutathione
peroxidase (GSH-PX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were
measured in 35 children (28 males and 7 females) with nephrotic
syndrome. Similar number of apparently healthy children with
appropriate age and sex were used as a control group. Children with
nephrotic syndrome had significantly higher levels of LP (3.37+0.5
nmol/ml) and lower level of serum selenium (150 ±35 ug/L) and red
blood cell GSH-PX (32.6+7.8 U/gHb) and SOD (1116 ±151 U/gHb)
respectively) when compared with the corresponding levels of the control
group (2.53 ±0.6nmol/ml, 230 ±43 ug/L. 51.8 ±13.8 U/gHb & 1422 ±
277 U/g Hb respectively). We concluded that imbalance between
generation of oxygen free radicals and antioxidant status may have
etiological implications for nephrotic syndrome.