AIm: To investigate the role of erythrocyte free radical scavenging enzyme activities (FRSE), carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) in infants with myelomeningocele (MM). mAteRIAl and methods: We compared antioxidant enzyme activities and MDA level in 40 individuals (10 infants with MM, 10 healthy infants; and mothers of these two groups) with age-matched subjects. Erythrocyte FRSE included catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and

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... one-S-transferase (GST). Results: CA, CAT, SOD, GPX and GST concentrations were lower in all of the infants with MM compared to healthy infants. The mothers of infants with MM also had lower CA, CAT, SOD, GPX and GST activities than healthy mothers. It was also found out that the MDA level as a marker of oxidative damage was higher in infants with MM and their mothers than in healthy infants and their mothers. ConClusIon: Lower FRSE activities indicate an increased frequency of MM. Free radicals (FRs) such as MDA may play a significant role in the etiology of MM.