Effect of propofol, sevoflurane and desflurane on systemic redox balance

We studied the effects of Proprofol, Desflurane, and Sevoflurane on the systemic redox balance in patients undergoing laparohysterectomy. We measured blood concentration of glutathione (GSH), plasma antioxidant capacity (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity-TEAC), and lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde (aMDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (aHNE) protein adducts). Sixty patients were randomly placed into three groups of twenty people each. In Group P anesthesia was induced with Propofol 2 mg/kg and maintained with 12-10-8 mg/kg/min; in Groups S and D anesthesia was induced with 3 mg/kg Sodium Thiopental and maintained with 2% Sevoflurane and 6% Desflurane, respectively. Blood samples were collected prior to induction (T-0(bas)), 60min and 24h postoperatively (T-1(60') and T(2)(24)h). In Group P, GSH increased on T-1(60') (p < 0.02) and returned to baseline on T24h, while TEAC remained unmodified; in Groups S, GSH and TEAC decreased on T1(60)' (p < 0.01 vs. T-0(bas), p < 0.03 vs. T-0(bas), respectively); in Group D, on T-1(60)' there was a slight decrease of GSH and TEAC. The levels of aMDA slightly decreased throughout the study periods in Group P, increased in Group D, and remained stable in Group S. Propofol showed antioxidant properties, while Sevoflurane and Desflurane seemed to shift the redox balance towards oxidation, yet without inducing overt oxidative damage.