Background: The use of antioxidants as drugs that may control the inflammatory process in rheumatoid arthritis recently has become a widely studied hint. One of the most important components of antioxidant barrier in humans is enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). The experimental treatments with SOD were proved to be efficace in animals. The aim of the present study was to estimate the activity of SOD in patients with rheumatoid disease of childhood —juvenile idiopathic arthritis and to analyse it in different clinical aspects of the disease including its activity, course and time of duration. Material/Methods: A group of 68 children with JIA, aged from 3 to 18 years, patients of Rheumatologic Hospital in Sopot was examined in years 1996-2000. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis was diagnosed according to EULAR classification (Durban 1997). The control group consisted of 29 healthy children aged from 3 to 18 years. Superoxide dismutase activity was determined in full, heparinised blood with the use of spectrofotometric method of Randox. The study was accepted by the Local Comitee of Ethics.Results: A statistically important grow in SOD activity was found in group of children with JIA (2299.9 ±1773.1 U/gHb) com-pared to healthy group (1203 ±395.6 U/gHb). In polyarthricular form of disease the activity of SOD was also importantly higher than in control group.
Conclusions: In course of JIA, differently than in rheumatoid arthritis of adults, superoxide dismutase activity seems to be stimulated, so the treatment with egzogenous SOD may not be effective.

Keywords: juvenile idiopathic arthritis