Resumen

PEREZ GASTELL, Pedro Luis  y  PEREZ DE ALEJO, José Luis. Métodos para medir el daño oxidativo. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2000, vol.29, n.3, pp. 192-198. ISSN 1561-3046.

The imbalance in the production of reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant defense brings about oxidative damage known as oxidative stress that leads to a series of physiological and biochemical changes which cause cell deterioration and death. This type of damage may be measured by direct or indirect methods. The direct methods comprise, among others, the measurement of oxidant agent concentrations, which is a difficult procedure because of the short lifetime of such agents and the high cost of equipment; therefore, it is necessary to measure them by indirect methods such as 1) Determination of terminal products from oxidant action on biomolecules: the methods to measure lipid peroxides are the golden pattern for proving the role of oxidants in any kind of cellular damage.2) Measurement of antioxidant concentrations: the results of several studies showed that the levels of antioxidants may diminish or increase in lot of diseases, so if they are monitored, they may serve as markers of diseases or for therapeutical follow-up. 3) Measurement of the total antioxidant state: it shows the dynamic balance between the antioxidant system and the prooxidants, being useful for a lot of diseases. Innumerable efforts are made worldwide for developing new and simpler methods. Who knows if, in the years to come, physicians will prescribe their patients as a routine procedure, the measurement of cholesterol and glucose together with the determination of oxidative stress.

Palabras clave : OXIDATIVE STRESS; REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES.

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