Lipid peroxides in blood plasma and enzymatic antioxidative defence of erythrocytes in Down's syndrome.

The level of lipid peroxides was significantly increased in the blood of patients with Down's syndrome. In erythrocytes increased activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were confirmed while catalase activity was similar to that of healthy controls. The concentration of selenium in erythrocytes of Down's syndrome patients was reduced, in spite of increased glutathione peroxidase activity. These results confirm the hypothesis of an altered oxidative metabolism in Down's syndrome.