Effect of propofol, sevoflurane and desflurane on systemic redox balance

Backgrounds: We studied the effects of Propofol, Desflurane, and Sevoflurane on the systemic redox balance in patients undergoing laparohysterectomy. Methods: 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). Results: 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 (T0 bas), 60min and 24h postoperatively (T1 60' and T2 24 h). In Group P, GSH increased on T1 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. T0 bas, p<0.03 vs. T0 bas, respectively); in Group D, on T1 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. Conclusions: Propofol showed antioxidant properties, while Sevoflurane and Desflurane seemed to shift the redox balance towards oxidation, yet without inducing overt oxidative damage.