The Jurnal of Prventive Medicine

This study is based on the comparative analysis of 38 patients with reactive arthritis defined by Amor criteria, a group of 33 patients with rheumatoid polyarthritis and 50 healthy controls. Antioxidant systems (glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase) were investigated in inflammation consecutive to immune and infectious syndromes. Our study showed that reactive arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is associated with enhanced oxidative stress. The lower levels of natural blood antioxidant enzyme, were related to severe forms of disease. The investigation of oxidative metabolism lies at the basis of antioxidant therapy that could influence the natural course of reactive arthritis and polyarthritis.