Abstract

Oxidative stress: A comparison of different groups of patients with Hepatitis-C in hemodialysis units

Author(s): Da Silva NMO, Kalb AC, Vidales-Braz BM, Dos Santo DM, Martinez EP, Martinez AMB and Zanella RC

There is a close relationship between patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) treatment who are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and oxidative stress (OS), which accelerates atherosclerotic processes and reduces the quality of life of the patients. Hemodialyzed patients have high morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated OS in patients undergoing HD against HCV infection. Four groups of patients (n = 40 per group) were evaluated, including healthy patients (Group 1), patients on HD (Group 2), patients with HCV (Group 3) and patients with HCV on HD (Group 4). The groups were compared for the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the lipid peroxidation. The TAC decreased in the group 2 patients. In the analysis of the lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes, a significant increase (p < 0.05) of the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed in group 2 when compared to the group 3 patients. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the patients in groups 1, 3 and 4 and between group 2 when compared to group 4. The lipid peroxidation in the blood plasma demonstrates a significant association (p < 0.05) in group 4. These results indicate that the HD process and HCV infection alter the peroxidation process by accelerating the process of atherosclerosis and reducing the quality of life of these patients.