A preliminary study pointing out the role of serum prolidase activity and oxidative-antioxidative status parameters during the treatment process of patients with idiopathic clubfoot.

We aimed to investigate serum prolidase activity and to find out its association with oxidative-antioxidative status in patients with idiopathic clubfoot and during the course of the disease. Oxidative status parameters, including total free sulfhydryl groups (-SH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI), as well as serum prolidase activity were assessed at the beginning of the treatment in patients with idiopathic clubfoot (n = 38), at the end of 3 months during the treatment of the disease and in healthy controls (n = 40). All patients were managed with the Ponseti method and severity of the foot deformity was evaluated according to the Pirani Severity Score. Serum prolidase activity, TOS and OSI values of the patients at the beginning of the treatment were found to be significantly higher but -SH and TAC values were found to be significantly lower as compared to controls. In the treatment process, a significant decrease in serum prolidase activity, TOS and OSI values and Pirani Severity Score of the patients was observed, however a significant increase in -SH and TAC values of the patients was observed at the end of 3 months during the treatment of the disease as compared to the beginning of the treatment. Elevated levels of serum prolidase activity, TOS and OSI, and decreased levels of -SH and TAC may be associated with idiopathic clubfoot, and that these parameters may be useful adjunctive tools for follow-up in patients with idiopathic clubfoot.