Erythrocyte deformability and oxidative stress in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress and reduced microvascular flow are important factors in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The increased oxidative stress reduces the erythrocyte deformability. However, in IBD, there are no studies in the literature which evaluate erythrocyte deformability. AIMS: In our study, we investigated the effect of oxidative stress and erythrocyte deformability in IBD. METHODS: Forty-three patients with active IBD, 48 patients with inactive IBD and 45 healthy controls were included. The erytrocyte deformability, malonyldialdehyde levels, glutation peroxidase and sulfhydryl levels were measured in peripheral venous blood samples. RESULTS: Erytrocyte malonyldialdehyde levels in both active and inactive IBD were significantly increased compared with control groups. Plasma glutation peroxidase levels did not show statistically significant difference between all groups. The decreased plasma sulfhydryl levels in active IBD were statistically significant compared with both the inactive IBD and the control group, but plasma sulfhydryl levels in inactive IBD group did not show statistically significant differences when compared with the control group. Elongation index values in both active and inactive IBD increased significantly compared with the control group. Statistically significant correlations were not found between the elongation index and glutation peroxidase, malonyldialdehyde, sulfhydryl levels in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to evaluate the erythrocyte deformability in IBD. In our study, increased erytrocyte malonyldialdehyde levels and decreased plasma sulfhydryl levels manifested the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of the disease. It is thought that the increased erythrocyte malonyldialdehyde values cause the reduction in erythrocyte deformability.

Distribution of LDL subgroups in patients with hyperlipidemia.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) have been shown to be a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. Multiple distinct subspecies have been identified among LDL particles on the basis of differences in size, density, and chemical composition. Particles with a diameter of <25.5 nm are defined as small dense LDL (sdLDL) and have been shown to be associated with increased risk of coronary disease. Subjects with predominance of sdLDL (pattern B) tend to have higher levels of triglyceride (TG) and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). In this study, we investigated the distribution of LDL subgroups in subjects with different types of hyperlipidemia, such as hypertriglyceridemia (hyperTG), hypercholesterolemia (hyperCHO), and combined hyperlipidemia (HL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used gradient gel electrophoresis and a precipitation method with heparin-magnesium reagent to determine LDL subgroups. RESULTS: It was found that there was a significant (P < 0.02) association between the lipid panel and LDL subgroups. The percentage of sdLDL in all HL groups was higher than in controls, and the ratio of sdLDL was highest in patients with hyperTG. CONCLUSION: The predominance of sdLDL is closely related to hyperTG and low HDL-C levels.