Measurement of thiol/disulfide homeostasis and ischemic modified albumin levels in patients with uterine leiomyomas

Objective: The aim is to contrast the serum levels of thiol-disulfide homeostasis and ischemic modified albumin between patients with leiomyoma and healthy individuals and to assess the impact of oxidative stress on the etiopathogenesis of leiomyoma.

Methods: In this prospective case-control study, a total of 154 participants were included, consisting of 77 cases diagnosed with leiomyoma and 77 healthy individuals without leiomyoma. The demographic characteristics and ultrasonographic findings of the participants were recorded, and parameters such as albumin, ischemia-modified albumin, and thiol-disulfide homeostasis were evaluated. The results obtained from the analyses were compared between the two groups.

Results: No significant differences were observed in the demographic characteristics between the groups. A significant difference was observed between the leiomyoma and control groups regarding serum albumin parameters, serum ischemic modified albumin, and serum dynamic thiol-disulfide parameters (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found in the ratios of disulfide/total thiol, disulfide/native thiol, native thiol/total thiol (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: There was a notable contrast in the levels of albumin, ischemic modified albumin, albumin/ischemic modified albumin ratio, total thiol, native thiol, and disulfide between individuals with uterine leiomyomas and healthy individuals in the control group. Oxidative stress is believed to play a causative role in the etiopathogenesis of uterine leiomyomas.