The oxidant-antioxidant balance in systemic sclerosis cases with interstitial lung involvement

We aimed to assess the plasma oxidant and antioxidant levels in systemic sclerosis (SS) patients with interstitial lung involvement. Twenty-seven female SS patients and 17 healthy female volunteers were included in the study. Plasma levels of oxidants and antioxidants levels were studied of two groups. The median oxidant and antioxidant levels in study and control groups were, MDA 5.2 +/- 0.4/3.7 +/- 0.5 nmol/ml (P 0.05), catalase 99.9 +/- 9.9/140.0 +/- 10.0 U/ml (P 0.05). In our study, the oxidant burden in SS patients with interstitial lung involvement was found to be increased; however no correlation was detected between the severity of lung involvement and oxidant-antioxidant levels

Pulmonary function in multiple sclerosis without any respiratory complaints

Objectives: Pulmonary complications in severe multiple sclerosis (MS) are often seen secondary to respiratory muscle dysfunction. The development of respiratory muscle dysfunction and its association with disability during the course of MS is unknown. In our study,we investigated the predictive value of respiratory muscle functions and the change in forced vital capacity (Delta forced vital capacity [FVC]; FVC upright - FVC supine) to detect deterioration of respiratory muscle functions in the early phase of MS