Our patients with septic shock had higher levels of serum MDA concentration [septic shock (n:132): 1.43 (0.77–2.19) μmol/L; controls (n:17): 0.86 (0.49–1.07) μmol/L; p = 0.003] and lower erythrocyte SOD1 activity [septic shock (n:132): 2.92 (2.19–3.92) U/mg Hb; controls (n:17): 4.35 (3.32–4.68) U/mg Hb; p = 0.001] when compared to control subjects. Here, SOD1 is linked to septic shock.