The level of selected markers of oxidative stress (protein carbonyls, nitrite, malondialdehyde) and antioxidants (ceruloplasmin and ascorbic acid) were measured in the serum of 40 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 20 healthy individuals were taken as controls. All the markers of oxidative stress were seen to be significantly elevated in patients of rheumatoid arthritis as compared to controls (p <0.001). Among the antioxidants, while serum ceruloplasmin was significantly raised in patients (p <0.001) as compared to controls, there was no significant difference in serum ascorbic acid levels between the two groups. A significant positive correlation was observed between ceruloplasmin and all the measured indicators of oxidative stress in patients of rheumatoid arthritis (r = 0.3 p<0.05 for protein carbonyls, r = 0.57 p<0.01 for nitrite, r = 0.64 p<0.01 for malondialdehyde). No such correlation was observed in the control group.

Keywords: Protein carbonyls, nitrite, malondialdehyde, ceruloplasmin, ascorbic acid.

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Basant Joshi

Department of Biochemistry, Govt. Medical College, Haldwani, India

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