Elevated peroxidative glutathione redox status in atherosclerotic patients with increased thickness of carotid intima media.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Accumulated evidences suggest a deep involvement of oxidative damage in the development of atherosclerosis, but little is discussed over the relationship between plasma glutathione redox status as the most important intrinsic antioxidant defensive mechanism and the atherosclerosis.

Methods: A total of 132 patients suspected with atherosclerosis were assigned to three groups by high frequency ultrasonic examination of the carotid artery.