Thiol Disulfide Homeostasis of Pediatric Oncology Patients After the Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Tomography Imaging: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Aim: Positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET/CT) is used for oncologic imaging as hybrid imaging. Pediatric patients are exposed to ionizing radiation when they undergo hybrid medical imaging examinations. It is especially important to minimize the radiation exposure when children and infants are imagined, as immature tissues are more susceptible to damage induced by radiation. This study aims to reveal the oxidant and antioxidant status in oncology patients before and after PET/CT imaging. Methods: Between February 2019 and July 2019, pediatric oncology patients who underwent PET imaging at the time of diagnosis in our center were included in the study. Eighteen newly diagnosed cancer pediatric patients participated in this prospective crosssectional study. Data were saved to synchronously kept excel log files and used in the study. Disulphide amounts, total and native thiols, native thiol/total thiol percent ratios, disulphide/native thiol percent ratios, disulphide/total thiol percent ratios, and Ischemia-Modified Albumin were calculated before and after the PET/CT imaging. Results: Disulphide levels, disulphide/total thiol and disulphide/native thiol ratios of patients' serum samples were significantly higher and the ratio of native thiol/total thiol was reduced after the PET/CT. Conclusion: There was disturbed thiol-disulfide homeostasis and the balance changed in the direction of oxidant damage. Our results indicate the possible oxidative stress condition due to radiation exposure with PET/CT in pediatric oncology patients.