Lack of glutathione transferase activity in intermittent claudication

Glutathione transferase activity towards trans-stilbene oxide (GT-tSBO), an enzyme involved in the detoxification of many substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was studied in 77 consecutive patients operated with coronary bypass, 73 patients with intermittent claudication, 78 healthy smokers and in 38 healthy non-smokers. The mean ages of these groups were similar. Lack of GT-tSBO was recorded in 45% of coronary bypass patients, in 39% of smoking coronary bypass patients, in 61% of patients with intermittent claudication, in 41% of healthy smokers and in 31% of healthy non-smokers. The lack of GT-tSBO was significantly more frequent among patients with intermittent claudication compared to healthy non-smokers (p less than 0.01) and healthy smokers (p less than 0.025) and to smoking coronary bypass. It is concluded that the lack of GT-tSBO is found more frequently among patients with intermittent claudication and this might contribute to explain the sensitivity to smoking among these subjects.