Background:

the relationship between the reduced and oxidized form of glutathione, GSH/ GSSG, is frequently used as an indicator of the cellular redox state. Under conditions where high levels of oxidizing species are generated, reduced glutathione requirements can be increased, and therefore, the cellular redox state can be affected.

Objective:

to determine the relationship between the cellular redox state and systemic markers of inflammation.

Methods:

a descriptive study was carried out in a series of 56 cases referred from the immunogenetics clinic, aged between 1 and 76 years old, of both sexes. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum levels of C-reactive protein were determined as systemic markers of inflammation. The GSH/GSSG ratio was calculated from the intraerythrocyte concentrations of reduced glutathione and its oxidized form, which were determined by an HPLC-UV method.

Results:

the average GSH/GSSG ratio was 7.9 (95 % CI: 6.4-9.4) and age did not influence this proportion. In the cases that had altered values of the inflammation markers, they showed a decrease in the GSH/GSSG ratio. Cellular redox status was negatively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation values (r=0.41; p=0.017). However, this association does not appear when C-reactive protein levels are analyzed.

Conclusions:

the patients who present alterations in the inflammation markers show changes in the cellular redox state. The combined study of these biomarkers allows a more comprehensive analysis of the health status of patients with inflammatory diseases.

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