Correlation between Antioxidant Enzymes Activity and Intraerythrocyte Concentration of Fe, Mg, Zn, Cu in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Cor Pulmonale in Children with Congenital Lung Disease and Cystic Fibrosis

Significant changes in the levels of the potential prooxidant Cu (increase) and the antioxidant Zn (decrease) in plasma were revealed in children having bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) complicated by pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic cor pulmonale (CCP) when compared with the control. The Zn / Cu ratio in the blood plasma of patients with BPD, especially in CCP, was found to be lower than in the control group (p<0.001). This could indicate the activation of the prooxidant processes; simultaneously, the total antioxidant status (AOS) decreased. No significant increase in the intracellular free (“ionized” (i)) form of magnesium (iMg) was found; in fact, the concentration of iFe in all the patient groups was higher than in the control. An increase in the iCu and iZn levels (nonprotein-bound) was observed in the blood cells of the affected children. A significant increase in the glutathione peroxidase activity in the CCP patients may indicate an accumulation of organic peroxides, and partially compensate for the lesser activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and other antioxidants. The Zn / Cu and iZn/ iCu ratios were reduced in patients with CCP when compared with patients with PD without CCP.