Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and thiobarbituric acid-reactive compounds in erythrocytes in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The activities of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were normal compared with healthy male controls, as were the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive compounds produced during incubation of erythrocytes in the presence of 10 mmol.1-1 hydrogen peroxide. These results suggest that the chief mechanisms for protecting the erythrocyte membrane from peroxidative damage are unimpaired and do not support the idea that the reported erythrocyte abnormalities in this disease result from increased susceptibility to lipid peroxidation.