Evaluation of dynamic thiol/disulfide redox state in community-acquired pneumonia

Objectives: To compare dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis between patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and healthy controls. Methods: This prospective, case-control study was conducted in the Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Ankara Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey, between August 2016 and August 2017. In total, 50 hospitalized patients with CAP and 35 healthy individuals were enrolled. Patients with comorbidities and smokers were excluded. The thiol/disulfide state was evaluated in each group. Thiol levels (native/total) and % polymorhonuclear leukocytes and C-reactive protein levels association were evaluated in patients with CAP. Results: There was no significant difference between the CAP and control groups in age or gender (both, p>0.05). The disulfide (SS) levels were similar between the 2 groups (p = 0.148). The total thiol (TT) and native thiol (SH) levels were significantly lower (all, p = 0.001) and the SS/TT levels were significantly higher (p = 0.019) in the CAP group compared with the controls. Conclusions: This study showed that the oxidant/antioxidant ratio was shifted to the oxidative side in CAP patients. An abnormal thiol/disulfide state may be an important factor in the pathogenesis and monitoring the treatment response. The thiol resources may use for treatment in CAP and may positively affect the prognosis.