Abstract

MARTINEZ, Leonardo N. et al. Assessment of oxidative stress in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and its possible relationship with environmental exposure to agrochemicals. Acta toxicol. argent. [online]. 2016, vol.24, n.1, pp.10-20. ISSN 1851-3743.

The agrochemicals are an effective method to control harmful species of interests to humans, but when they are applied indiscriminately, they can cause environmental and health damage to people. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that has a wide range of clinical manifestations and severity. While the etiology of SLE is unknown, it is associated with various environmental causes, being one possibility the exposure to agrochemicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible oxidative damage generated by environmental exposure to agrochemical mixtures in SLE patients and healthy people living in rural areas and compare them with patients and healthy people living in urban, unexposed areas. Forty four patients diagnosed with SLE and 58 healthy individuals (controls) were evaluated, using the following markers: Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), the oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio (GSH / GSSG) and lipid peroxidation (TBARS). Statistically signifcant differences were found in TBARS and SOD by comparing the results of the urban SLE group with its control and rural SLE group with its control (p <0.01 for both cases). When making comparisons between urban SLE group and the rural SLE group, an increase of 18.3% was found in TBARS (p = 0.014). This research demonstrates the importance of using biomarkers of oxidative stress in the clinical monitoring of patients with SLE, in order to establish guidelines for appropriate treatment and consider the relationship between environmental exposure to pesticides and increased oxidative damage in patients with SLE.

Keywords : Oxidative stress; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; Agrochemicals; Biomarkers.

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