The authors assessed in blood some indicators of the reaction of the organism to the formation and action of free radicals in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with other inflammatory articular diseases selected at random and with degenerative diseases of the joints and spine. From the results ensues that subjects with inflammations of the synovial membrane respond relatively frequently by a rise of indicators of the antioxidant system such as the activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase or the antioxidant capacity of plasma. Obviously a defence reaction of the organism is involved to the increased formation and action of free oxygen radicals in the inflamed articular lining. The authors conclude that the mentioned laboratory indicators of the action of free radicals could be used when checking the progress of treatment in rheumatic diseases.

Keywords: Antioxidants /metabolism/; Arthritis, Rheumatoid /metabolism/; Female; Free Radicals /metabolism/; Glutathione Peroxidase /blood/; Humans; Male; Malondialdehyde /blood/; Middle Aged; Osteoarthritis /metabolism/; Rheumatic Diseases /metabolism/; Superoxide Dismutase /blood/