Anti-oxidant activity in measles

BACKGROUND: Measles leads to serious complications, especially in developing countries. AIM: Our aim was to evaluate the effect of oxidative stress on the enzymatic and non-enzymatic anti-oxidant status in children with measles. METHODS: Levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, ceruloplasmin, albumin, total bilirubin and uric acid were studied in 17 children with measles and 29 healthy controls. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups for all parameters. All of the anti-oxidant activities except for albumin level were increased in the study group. Both enzymatic and nonenzymatic anti-oxidant defence systems were affected in measles.