Indicators of the Antioxidant Defense System in the Blood Plasma of Combatants After Combat-Related Musculoskeletal Trauma

Background. The full-scale war in Ukraine, which began in 2022, has exposed many servicemen to the adverse effects of various combat factors. The use of high-tech means and innovative combat technologies leads to a high incidence of combat-related musculoskeletal injuries among combatants. Therefore, studying wound healing dynamics and effective treatment strategies has become particularly relevant. Patient recovery speed and the prevention of local and systemic complications associated with such injuries depend on these factors. Tissue damage and subsequent inflammation are linked to a disruption in the body's oxidative-antioxidant balance. This leads to the development of oxidative stress and damage to biological molecules. Antioxidant enzymes play a crucial role in protecting against free radicals. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase) and the content of sulfhydryl groups in the blood plasma of servicemen with combat-related musculoskeletal trauma. Methods. All study participants were divided into two experimental groups with comparable mean ages. The first group (n=12) consisted of healthy controls. The second group (n=15) included patients with gunshot joint injuries. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, as well as sulfhydryl group content, were determined in the patients' blood plasma using standard biochemical methods. Study results were processed using established methods of variational statistics. Results. Our experimental studies demonstrated a decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the blood plasma: superoxide dismutase activity was reduced by a factor of 1.7, and catalase activity by a factor of 1.5, compared to the healthy control group. It was also established that the content of sulfhydryl groups in the blood plasma of patients with combat-related joint trauma decreased: non-protein SH-groups by a factor of 1.8, and protein and total SH-groups by a factor of 1.5, relative to the healthy control group. Сonclusions. These findings indicate a reduction in the reserve protective mechanisms within the bodies of patients with combat-related musculoskeletal trauma.