Oxidative stress in primary glomerular diseases: a comparative study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the status of oxidative stress in patients with different primary glomerular diseases (PGD) which have differential predisposition to renal failure.

METHODS: Seventy-three patients with PGD and 50 controls were enrolled in the study. They were sub-grouped into non-proliferative glomerulonephritis (NPGN) and proliferative glomerulonephritis (PGN). Levels of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI), plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), urine 8-isoprostane (8-IP), RBC thiols, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured spectrophotometrically.

RESULTS: PGD patients showed a significant increase in MDA, RNI, tHcy, 8-IP levels (P < 0.05) and decreased SOD, total thiols and protein bound thiol levels as compared to controls (P < 0.05). Significantly higher levels of tHcy, MDA and 8-IP (P < 0.05) and lower SOD enzyme activity (P < 0.05) were observed in PGN group as compared to NPGN and control groups. These changes remained significant even after adjustment was made for creatinine.

CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress in PGN is significantly higher than NPGN, indicating higher oxidative stress in these patients, independent of degree of renal dysfunction.