Investigations on vitamin E and lipid peroxide status in rheumatic diseases.

Patients of both sexes suffering from two types of rheumatic diseases-- rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis--were examined. Healthy volunteers of similar age served as controls. No significant difference was found in the plasma vitamin E content of the patients. Plasma malondialdehyde content was significantly higher /P less than 0.001/ in both sexes in the RA and OA groups as compared to the controls. Plasma catalase activity in both sexes was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in RA and OA groups while RBC glutathione-peroxidase showed significantly (P less than 0.001) higher activity only in the female RA group, as compared to the control subjects. A difference was found between RA and OA groups in malondialdehyde content and in glutathione-peroxidase activity in subjects of both sexes.