Hip osteoarthritis leads, among others, to abnormally decreased physical activity (hypokinesia). Adverse effect of physical inactivity can cause inhibition of anabolic processes in favour of enhancement of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid catabolitic reactions, as well as inadequate metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These alterations can induce an increased lipid peroxide synthesis, overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and acceleration of lipid peroxidation processes. The aim of the study was to determine superoxide dismutase activity (CuZn-SOD) in red blood cells of patients suffering from hip osteoarthritis prior to and following total alloplasty as compared to healthy subjects, and also to evaluate effect of hypokinesia on oxidative stress. MATERIAL AND METHODS; CuZn-SOD activity in red blood cells was determined according to the Misra and Fridovich method in 36 patients with hip osteoarthritis hospitalized at the Traumatic-Orthopaedic Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration Hospital in Lódź.
Results: In patients with decreased physical activity in ten days after alloplasty, enzyme activity increased (+24.9%), one month since the operation it decreased, but it higher as compared to result activity of CuZn-SOD prior to surgery (+16.8%).
Conclusions: The results activity of superoxide dysmutase leads to ROS generation and their overgeneration in hip osteoarthritis and in first time of treatment.