Published online Oct 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i10.2332
Revised: August 13, 2003
Accepted: August 20, 2003
Published online: October 15, 2003
AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the changes of serum malondialdehyde level, i.e; the oxidative stress hypothesis in patients infected with Ascaris lumbricoides.
METHODS: Serum malondialdehyde activity was measured in 43 patients who were positive for intestinal parasite of Ascaris lumbricoides. Scores were obtained for the positives and their age-and sex-matched 60 Ascaris lumbricoides negative healthy controls.
RESULTS: The difference between malondialdehyde levels of patients infected with Ascaris lumbricoides and control group was statistically significant both for females (P < 0.05) and for males (P < 0.05). In the patient and control groups, no correlation was found between age and malondialdehyde levels (P > 0.05) both in females and in males. In addition, no significant correlation could be found between malondialdehyde levels of both females and males for patients and control groups (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Malondialdehyde levels clearly increase in patients infected with Ascaris lumbricoides.