[The mechanism of action of selenium substitution in inflammatory diseases. Modification of the activity of antioxidative enzymes in patients with acute pancreatitis].

From 20 patients with acute pancreatitis the activities of the antioxidative enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were estimated in the blood serum immediately before and during therapy with sodium selenite. The results demonstrate significant (p < 0.01 respectively < 0.05) enhanced activities of GSH-Px under the selenite therapy. Serum SOD activities were not significant influenced by the selenium treatment. The results obtained were not dependent on the reference basis (units/mg protein or U/l serum) used.