BACKGROUND: The kidney accumulates the highest level of selenium (Se) inthe organism and is the major source of plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Se, as an integral partof the active site of GSH-Px, plays an important role in protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage.Decreased blood Se levels and GSH-Px activity are common in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. Ourstudy was an effort to evaluate the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) therapy and Se supplementation forCRF patients undergoing regular hemodialysis (HD) on blood Se, red cell glutathione (GSH), and bloodlipid peroxidation product levels, and on blood activity levels of GSH-Px and blood superoxide dismutase(SOD). MATERIAL/METHODS: Our subjects were divided into three groups: I - CRF patients on regular HDand EPO, II - HD patients receiving EPO and Se, and III - healthy controls. Se levels, SOD and GSH-Pxactivities were measured spectrofluorometrically, the GSH level by Beutler's colorimetric method, andlipid peroxidation products using TBARS. RESULTS: EPO therapy with Se supplementation significantly increasedwhole blood and plasma Se in HD patients, and raised red cell GSH-Px activity, but plasma GSH-Px activity,plasma superoxide dismutase, and plasma and red cell TBARS did not respond to Se supplementation. EPOalone showed no effect on these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with EPO and supplementation withSe significantly increased the element concentration in whole blood and plasma, and GSH-Px activity inred cells. Plasma GSH-Px activity did not respond to Se.

Keywords: Adolescent, Dietary Supplements, Erythropoietin, Kidney Failure, Chronic, Renal Dialysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov, Selenium, Spectrometry, Fluorescence, Time Factors, Uremia