[Determination of serum superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidative capacity, malondialdehyde in patients with pneumonia].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the levels of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with pneumonia. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with pneumonia were divided into group of acute pneumonia, group of chronic bronchitis complicated by lung infection, and group of bronchopneumonia. The levels of serum SOD, GSH-Px, T-AOC and MDA were detected by colorimetry in the 68 patients and 76 normal control subjects. RESULTS: The serum levels of SOD, GSH-Px and MDA were all significantly higher, while T-AOC significantly lower in the 3 patient groups than in the normal subjects. Significant difference in the measurements was also noted between the 3 groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The determination of serum SOD, GSH-Px, T-AOC and MDA may be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia.