Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 15, 2003; 9(10): 2266-2269
Published online Oct 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i10.2266
Role of oxygen free radicals in patients with acute pancreatitis
Byung Kyu Park, Jae Bock Chung, Jin Heon Lee, Jeong Hun Suh, Seung Woo Park, Si Young Song, Hyeyoung Kim, Kyung Hwan Kim, Jin Kyung Kang
Byung Kyu Park, Jae Bock Chung, Jin Heon Lee, Jeong Hun Suh, Seung Woo Park, Si Young Song, Jin Kyung Kang, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
Hyeyoung Kim, Kyung Hwan Kim, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Jae Bock Chung, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, 134 Shinchon-Dong, Seodaemun-ku, Seoul, 120-752 Korea. jbchung@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-2-361-5427 Fax: +82-2-393-6884
Received: June 4, 2003
Revised: July 25, 2003
Accepted: August 2, 2003
Published online: October 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: The generation of oxygen free radicals has been implicated in the pathogenesis of experimental pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to determine the role of oxygen free radicals in patients with acute pancreatitis.

METHODS: The plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), lipid peroxide (LPO), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in 13 patients with acute pancreatitis and 14 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS: Among the patients with acute pancreatitis, there were higher plasma levels of LPO and MPO and lower SOD activity in patients with severe pancreatitis than in those with mild pancreatitis. However, there was no significant difference in the serum marker of oxidative stress no matter what the etiology was. The LPO level was especially correlated with the concentration of serum CRP and CT severity index.

CONCLUSION: The oxygen free radicals may be closely associated with inflammatory process and the severity of acute pancreatitis. Especially, the concentration of plasma LPO is a meaningful index for determining the severity of the disease.

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