beta-carotene, vitamin e, mda, glutathione reductase and arylesterase activity levels in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

background: many studies have investigated the possible role of reactive oxygen species in the etiology and patho­gene­sis of rheumatoid arthritis (ra). the aim of this study was to investigate the activities of some antioxidants in ra patients. methods: in this case-control study, 59 ra patients and 60 healthy sex and age-matched controls were selected. vitamin e and beta-carotene were determined using hplc. erythrocytes glutathione reductase (gr) activity was meas­ured spec­trophotometrically, and malondialdehyde (mda) was determined by colorimetric method. aryles­terase activity (aea) was measured by phenylacetate. the clinical data were determined by a rheumatologist, medical history and filling the questionnaire by interview. statistical analyses were carried out using the spss software. results: in patients with ra, serum mda level was significantly higher and plasma concentration of vitamin e, beta-carotene and gr activity, were significantly lower than healthy control ( p <0.001). aea activity differences between two groups were non-significant. conclusions: oxidative stress may play an important role in the inflammation and pathogenesis of ra.