Oxidative Stress Status in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation

INTRODUCTION: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a degeneration process that causes nerve damage with mechanical and inflammatory effects. Data reflecting the role of oxidative stress in disease pathogenesis and prognosis are very limited. In this study, we analyzed oxidative stress parameters in LDH patients.
METHODS: The study included 63 patients who were diagnosed with LDH by magnetic resonance imaging and decided to operate and the same number of healthy controls. Oxidative stress parameters were measured from the patients preoperatively and at the postoperative sixth month. The obtained values were compared among themselves and with the control group.
RESULTS: Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) levels were found to be significantly lower in the preoperative period compared to the control group and postoperative period, meanwhile malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher (p=0.001). When postoperative patients were compared with the control group, it was revealed that SOD, CAT, and GSHPx were lower and MDA was higher than the control group (p=0.001).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In this study, it was shown that surgery significantly improved the oxidative stress state in patients with LDH, but could not eliminate it. In other words, oxidative stress and cellular damage continue at the molecular level.