Serum antioxidant enzyme activity in Parkinson's disease

Abstract
The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx; EC 1.11.1.9.), the enzymes that metabolize the superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, respectively, were measured in serum from healthy subjects and patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The activities of SOD and GSHPx in patients with PD were higher than those in normal healthy individuals. These results suggest that the increased activities of these enzymes could be due to oxidative stress in the initial stages of this disease.