1 Four patients were investigated for evidence of lipid peroxidation between 4.5 and 36 h (mean 22 h) after ingestion of paraquat by measuring plasma phospholipid-2-esterified, diene-conjugated 18:2Δ9,11-linoleic acid (9,11-LA) and expressing it also as a ratio R (9,11-LA/9,12-LA x 100) of the 'parent' linoleic acid.
2 The mean value for R was 4.73 (range 3.7-7.1) at presentation and 6.91 at peak values (range 3.8-13.4) which occurred at a mean of 34 h after ingestion. Both values were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that of 107 healthy controls (1.94, range 0.67-3.8).
3 Parallel changes in plasma vitamin E and 9,11-LA occurred in the 2 patients in whom serial measurements were made suggesting an involvement of vitamin E in the formation of this isomer.
4 These findings support the hypothesis that lipid peroxidation occurs during paraquat poisoning in man and the early appearance of 9,11-LA suggests that it may be a primary event.
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