Selenium, glutathione and glutathione peroxidases in blood of patients with chronic liver diseases.

Disturbances in the antioxidant system could play a role in pathogenesis of chronic liver disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate the levels/activities of antioxidants in blood of patients with chronic liver disease. We estimated selenium and glutathione concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activities in blood of 59 patients with chronic hepatitis B or C virus infection (group 1) and 64 patients with alcoholic, autoimmune or cryptogenic chronic liver disease (group 2).

[Plasma selenium concentration, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase activities in patients with chronic liver diseases].

The effects exerted on hepatocytes by alcohol metabolites, drugs or other toxins and also hepatotropic viruses lead to chronic liver diseases. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in a number of pathologies, including different types of liver diseases. Organism has developed several mechanisms to counteract or prevent reactive oxygen species effects.