Parameters of ‘peroxidation — antioxidant defense’ system and platelet–derived growth factor level in endocrine ophthalmopathy in the course of glucocorticoid pulse therapy

INTRODUCTION: Endocrine ophthalmopathy (EO) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease, with the need of further study of immunological and biochemical pathogenetic factors of this disease. AIM: To assess the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidant activity, and the BB isoform of platelet–derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) in patients with EO in the course of glucocorticoid pulse therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 individuals were examined, from which 2 groups were formed: a control group (n = 15) and a clinical group of patients with an active phase of EO before and after glucocorticoid pulse therapy (n = 15). A comparative clinical and laboratory analysis was conducted that included a comprehensive ophthalmological examination, determination of TBARS level, of the total antioxidant activity and PDGF-BB in blood serum. RESULTS: TBARS concentration in the EO group before glucocorticoid pulse therapy exceeded values of the control group (р 0.001) and did not differ from the parameters after treatment (р = 0.683). The total antioxidant activity before treatment was reduced compared to the control (р 0.001) and also had no significant differences with the parameters after treatment (р = 0.345). The level of PDGF-BB in the active phase of EO before pulse therapy 2.3 times exceeded that of the control group (р 0.001), 1.5 times decreased with pulse therapy (р 0.001), but remained 1.6 times (р = 0.008) the control. Statistically significant relationships were found between the content of PDGF-BB and parameters of ‘peroxidation — antioxidant defense’ system (p 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with EO in the active phase, an imbalance in the ‘peroxidation — antioxidant defense’ system was found in terms of increased production of TBARS. In the course of glucocorticoid pulse therapy, the identified imbalance persisted. In the active phase of the disease, a significant increase in the level of PDGF-BB was detected, with the concentration remaining elevated after treatment. Correlations were established between the parameters of oxidative stress and the level of PDGF-BB. In view of the obtained data, it seems necessary to develop and introduce the alternative treatment methods for EO targeted at trigger points in the pathogenesis of this disease.