OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes of antioxidative capacity and endothelial function among patients with high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).

METHODS

The serum levels of SOD, MDA, GSH, NO, NOS and ET-1 were measured before and after treatment among 34 cases of patients with HAPE, and 20 local healthy volunteers served as control.

RESULTS

The serum levels of SOD, GSH, NO and NOS were lower in patient-group before treatment than after treatment and those in control-group significantly (P < 0.01), while the concentration of MDA and ET-1 were higher in patient-group before treatment than after treatment and those in the control-group significantly (P < 0.01). The serum levels of SOD, MDA, GSH, NO, NOS and ET-1 were not different between patient-group after treatment and the control-group (P>> 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that changes of SOD, MDA, GSH, NO, NOS and ET-1 may participate in the course of HAPE.