Thiol / disulfide balance and oxidative stress parameters in pediatric patients diagnosed with acute and chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Abstract

Background. Changes in oxidative stress and thiol / disulfide balance are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Our study investigates total oxidant level (TOS), total antioxidant level (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI) levels and thiol / disulfide balance in pediatric patients with acute and chronic ITP. Methods. Thirty four patients with acute ITP, eighteen patients with chronic ITP and thirty three healthy children (control) were included. TOS, TAS, OSI, thiol / disulfide balance were analyzed. Results. In acute ITP, TAS levels were lower than chronic ITP and control, TOS and OSI levels were higher than control, and native thiol level was lower than chronic ITP (p <0.05). In acute ITP; disulfide level, disulfide / native thiol and disulfide / total thiol ratios were higher than chronic ITP and control, and native thiol / total thiol ratio was lower than chronic ITP and control group (p = 0.038, p = 0.018, respectively). TOS and OSI levels of the chronic ITP were higher than the control group (p <0.05). Conclusions. The results of this study have shown that oxidative stress increases in children with acute ITP and chronic ITP, that thiol / disulfide balance is disrupted in favor of disulfide in acute ITP, and that thiol / disulfide balance isn’t disrupted in chronic ITP patients whose platelet count is close to normal and who don’t require treatment.