[Effect of hyperglycemia on the status of antioxidant protection of erythrocytes in children with diabetes mellitus and in vitro].

A study was made of changes in the activity of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) with regard to the blood level of glucose in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and in vitro. A total of 83 children aged 3 to 14 with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and 10 healthy adults were investigated. Catalase activity did not change whereas superoxide dismutase activity in decompensation of disease was significantly lower than that in its compensation. Experiments in vitro revealed that glucose, added to erythrocytes of donors in the concentration of 20 mumol/l, caused a double decrease in the activity of both enzymes at 37 degrees C for 2 h as compared to control test values. Thus glucose was shown to be able to act as a modifier of enzymes, and the state of antioxidant protection of erythrocytes depended on its blood level.