The activity of lipid peroxidation and of antioxidant enzymes in the lacrimal fluid in posttraumatic uveitis

The intensity of lipid peroxidation (LPO) was assessed by the levels of diene conjugates, conjugated ketatrienes, malonic dialdehyde, Schiff's bases, and activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the lacrimal fluid of the eye injured in perforating wounds and the paired (intact) eye in 87 patients with posttraumatic uveitis. LPO, catalase, and SOD activities were increased in the lacrimal fluid of the injured eye in patients with uneventful course of posttraumatic uveitis. In sluggish course and exacerbation of chronic posttraumatic uveitis activation of LPO was paralleled by a decrease in catalase activity, indicative of the antioxidant system decompensation. Similar changes were observed in the lacrimal fluid of the intact eye. The authors consider that biochemical analysis of the lacrimal fluid from the intact eye cannot be regarded as adequate control in posttraumatic uveitis.