• Ibrahim H El-Sayed, Ibrahim M El kady, and Gamal A Badra.
• Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute, Menofiya University, Sadat City, P.O. Box 22857-79, Egypt. ibrahimelsayed@yahoo.com
• Clin. Chim. Acta. 2003 Oct 1; 336 (1-2): 123-8.

IntroductionObstructive jaundice is an important clinical problem. It may cause transient hemolysis and shortened erythrocyte life span as well as cytokine induction. An increase in lipid peroxidation has been noted as evidence of oxidative damage in red cells due to cholestasis. The influence of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), mechanical lithotrepsy and stone extraction on the antioxidative capacity of the erythrocyte and immune response is still unclear.MethodsSuperoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) content of red blood cells (RBC), and serum interleukin (IL-18) were measured in 20 patients with calcular obstructive jaundice before and 4 weeks after ERCP intervention and compared with 10 matched healthy volunteers.ResultsA significant decrease (p<0.05) in SOD and CAT activities and glutathione concentration but a significant increase (p<0.05) in serum IL-18 were observed in cholestatic patients compared with the healthy control and were significantly correlated with variable of hepatic dysfunction (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT). After ERCP, serum IL-18 and antioxidant capacity of red blood cells were significantly improved and returned to normal concentration (p<0.05).ConclusionsIn biliary obstruction, serum IL-18 is increased and antioxidative capacity is decreased, and have a direct correlation with biochemical markers of liver injury. After ERCP intervention, the altered antioxidative capacity as well as serum IL-18 was completely restored to normal.

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