Abstract
Leprosy reduces quality of life of affected persons. Oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species may play a vital role in the pathogenesis of leprosy. This study evaluated anthropometric indices, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), lipid profile, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total plasma peroxide (TPP), oxidative stress index (OSI), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdg) in leprosy patients. Sixty test participants of both genders, aged 18-65years and diagnosed of multibacillary leprosy and 30 apparently healthy controls were consecutively recruited for this study. The test participants comprised of 30 patients on multidrug therapy (MDT) and 30 patients relieved from therapy (RFT). Body mass index (BMI), Waist-hip ratio (WHR), FPG, lipid profile, TAC, TPP, OSI, MDA, GSH and 8-OHdg were determined using appropriate methods. Data were analyzed using Analysis of variance; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The MDT group had significantly lower BMI (p = 0.0001), Total cholesterol (p = 0.001), HDL-C (p = 0.019), LDL-C (p = 0.005), TAC (p = 0.0001) and higher TPP (p = 0.001), MDA (p = 0.0001), OSI (p = 0.005) and 8-OHdg (p = 0.035) compared to the controls. The RFT group had significantly lower BMI (p = 0.001) Total cholesterol (0.0001), HDL-C (p = 0.006) LDL-C (p = 0.0001), TAC (p = 0.001) and higher WHR (p = 0.010), VLDL-C (p = 0.035), TG (p = 0.023) Atherogenic index of plasma (p = 0.0001) and TPP (p = 0.001), MDA (p = 0.0001) compared to the control group. GSH levels correlated negatively with duration of treatment (r = -0.401, p = 0.028). This study has shown that there is oxidative stress in multibacillary leprosy patients irrespective of drug treatment status. This study also shows that leprosy patients relieved from treatment may be susceptible to cardiovascular events. Antioxidants supplementation may be beneficial in the treatment of leprosy and clinical follow up on patients relieved from treatment may also be necessary to monitor health status and prevent development of cardiovascular events.
Highlights
Leprosy or Hansen’s disease is a chronic debilitating disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes causing progressive and permanent disabilities if not treated [1]
This study shows that there are lower levels of total antioxidant capacity and higher levels of total plasma peroxide, malondialdehyde in leprosy patients undergoing multidrug therapy and those relieved from treatment and higher levels of 8-OHdg and oxidative stress index in leprosy patients undergoing multidrug therapy
Leprosy patients relieved from treatment may be susceptible to cardiovascular events as shown by higher levels of VLDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and atherogenic index of plasma observed in that group compared to controls
Summary
Leprosy or Hansen’s disease is a chronic debilitating disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes causing progressive and permanent disabilities if not treated [1]. A global registered prevalence of 192, 713 cases was reported in 2017, an increase by 20, 765 cases over that in 2016, and 210, 671 new cases were detected in the same year [5]. In Nigeria a registered prevalence of 3,234 cases was reported in 2015 and 2,892 new cases were detected in the same year [6]. In 2017, prevalence of 11, 230 cases was reported and 2,447 new cases detected, with a total of 195, 875 persons infected with leprosy in the country; making Nigeria first among African countries with the highest burden of the disease in 2017 [5]. Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) maintains that over 3,500 people are diagnosed with leprosy yearly in the country with about 25% of victims having some degree of disability [8]
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