Oxidative stress in the development of human ischemic hepatitis during circulatory shock

An increasing number of studies support the involvement of free radical-mediated oxidative reactions in the pathogenesis of tissue injury following ischemia reperfusion. In particular, a condition of oxidative stress is evident in patients with circulatory shock, a disease process often complicated by progressive organ failure sustained by inflammatory reactions. In all shock patients without signs of organ failure, a consistent increase of intermediate and final products of lipid peroxidation (lipid peroxides and aldehydes respectively) was observed. Impairment of the redox equilibrium in the tissues of these patients was confirmed by a significant reduction of glutathione and vitamin E hematic concentrations. Moreover, a selective increase of plasma aldehyde-protein adducts, actual proof of oxidative damage of macromolecules, is only present in the shock patients who, in addition, show hepatic cytolysis (ischemic hepatitis) as estimated by plasma levels of LDH₅ isoenzyme. Aldehyde adducts well mark the progression of the disease towards multiple organ failure. Finally, the good statistical correlation between aldehyde-modified proteins and LDH₅, as well as their distinct behaviour in control and ischemic hepatitis, support the involvement of oxidative damage in the expression and worsening of circulatory shock.