Abstract: To assess the effects of splenectomy in liver cirrhosis on oxidant and antioxidant system and its clinical significance. The plasma levels of vitamin E (P-Vit E) , vitamin C (P-Vit C) , beta-carotene (P-β-CAR) , lipoperoxides (P-LPO) and nitric oxide (P-NO) , the erythrocyte levels of superoxide dismutase (E-SOD) , catalase (E-CAT) , glutathione peroxidase (E-GSH-Px) and E-LPO in cirrhosis patients were measured in 28 liver cirrhosis patients with splenectomy, 32 without splenectomy, 60 sex-and age-matched subjects from healthy people as the control group. It showed that the levels of P-Vit E, P-β-CAR and P-Vit C as well as activity of E-SOD, E-CAT and E-GSH-Px gradually increased in cirrhosis without splenectomy group, in cirrhosis with splenectomy group and in normal control group (all P <0 001) ; While the contents of P-LPO, E-LPO and P-NO gradually decreased (all P <0 001) . Multiple comparisons showed there were statistical difference among three groups ( P <0 001, P <0 01 or P <0 05) except the levels of E-SOD between cirrhosis with splenectomy group and normal control group. Splenectomy is helpful to correct abnormal metabolism of nitric oxide and unbalance between oxidation and antioxidation in patients with liver cirrhosis.