Serum malondialdehyde level in patients with cystic echinococcosis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level for the oxidative stress hypothesis in patients with cystic echinococcosis (CE).

METHODS: The study was conducted on patients with CE before the surgical treatment. Anti-Echinococcus granulosus antibodies were determined by serological method. We assayed MDA activities measured of 57 subjects and matched in 45 healthy controls. This study took place in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Cukurova, Balcali Hospital in Adana, Turkey, between March 2004 and October 2005.

RESULTS: The mean ± SD of MDA levels of patients with CE was 6.70 ± 1.66 and healthy controls was 2.53 ± 0.43. The difference between MDA levels of patients and controls was statistically significant (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: The high infection/control ratio of MDA concentration and the significant correlation strongly indicate the occurrence of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation as a mechanism of tissue damage in cases of CE. Our study highlights the usefulness of serum markers to investigate complex pathological situations, including distinct forms of chronic liver inflammation associated with CE.