EFFECTS OF OXIDATIVE STRESS ON HEMATOLOGICAL PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS
Keywords:
Oxidative stress; blood physiology; erythrocytes; hemoglobin; leukocytes; platelets; hemostasis; antioxidant defense system; reactive oxygen species; blood rheology.Abstract
Oxidative stress is a complex biological process resulting from an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the capacity of the antioxidant defense system. The blood system is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, which induces significant functional alterations in erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, plasma proteins, and hemostatic mechanisms. Due to their continuous exposure to oxygen and the propensity of hemoglobin to undergo auto-oxidation, erythrocytes are particularly vulnerable to ROS-mediated damage, including membrane lipid peroxidation, reduced deformability, hemolysis, and eryptosis. In leukocytes, oxidative stress enhances the production of inflammatory mediators, modulates immune responses, and contributes to the development of chronic inflammation. In platelets, ROS promote activation, aggregation, adhesion, and thrombus formation, thereby increasing the risk of thrombosis. Consequently, oxidative stress is closely associated with a wide range of hematological parameters, including erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width (RDW), leukocyte differential count, platelet count, and coagulation-related indices.
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