Abstract

Aim: To evaluate antioxidant status before and after anti-inflammatory treatment in children with rheumatic fever (RF) and to find out the relation between superoxide disrnutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and acute phase reactant /eve/s. Method: We studied SOD, CAT activities and acute phase reactant levels from 20 patients with RF in acute and remission period anda control group in the same ages. 20 patients with RF in acute Results: Study group consists of 20 patients with RF (12 male, 8 female) with average age of 10±4.2 anda control group 20 healty subjects (12 ma/e, 8 female) with average age of 9.8±2.1. The activation and remission values of RF patients and control group values were ESR {mm/h){82±27,10±3,12±3), CRP {mg/d/) (7.8±4. 7, 0.23±0.17, 0.17±0.16), SOD (Ug!Hb) (4631±685, 1388±240, 1329±194), CAT (Ug!Hb) (6938±1070, 3655±723, 3601±551) consequent/y. No significant difference was determined in SOD and CAT activities in control group and the remission period of study group. However SOD and CAT activities were significant/y higher in acute period of RF patients. Conclusion: Oxyradical injury and antioxidant enzyme systems play an important role in patients with rheumatic fever.