Objective: To determine activity of catalase (CAT) as a antioxidant and carbonic anhydrase (CA) inerythrocytes from acute leukemia cases. Methods: Subjects were recruited from patients attending the outpatientclinics or hospitalised in the ward of the Hematology Department of Yuzuncu Yil University Hospital. Venousblood samples were taken from a total of 67 individuals (31 with acute leukemia and 36 healthy) included in thestudy. CAT enzyme activity was determined in erythrocytes using Aebi’s method and CA by hydration of CO2. Results: CAT activity was found to be significantly decreased (P<0.001) on average in acute leukemia cases ascompared to the control group while erythrocyte CA activity was significantly increased (P<0.001). Conclusions:Our findings point to malfunction of the antioxidant system in acute leukemia patients. Hence we need toinvestigation the cause and also its possible contribution to prognosis. Furthermore, clarification of the relationshipbetween the antoxidant system and CA inhibitors in the pathogenesis of acute leukemia appears warranted.
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