Correlations between clinical severity of pulmonary tuberculosis, thyroid function and some cytokines

Abstract

To estimate the interrelations between thyroid profile, some cytokines and clinical severity of new case of cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis 43 patients with cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis and 10 healthy volunteers were studied. Thyroid glands of all patients before chemotherapy and volunteers from control group were examined by ultrasound. The levels of free thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone and antibodies to thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase in the serum were defined. At the same time the levels of tumor necrosis tumor necrosis factor, interferon-gamma and interleukin-2, -6, and -4 were measured. Correlations between clinical severity of new case of pulmonary tuberculosis, thyroid functions, and these cytokines were studied. The pathological changes of thyroid echo structures were recovered in more than half of patients. The level of thyroxine in tuberculous patients was decreased down to lower-normal significance. In tuberculous patients with pathological echo structure of the thyroid the thyroxine level decreasing was more significant. The thyroxine stimulating hormone level was increased in these patients. The increasing of tumor necrosis tumor factor and the interleukin-6 levels and the decreasing of interleukin-4 level were demonstrated in tuberculous patients comparing with healthy persons. Positive correlation between clinical severity of new case of pulmonary tuberculosis, thyroid functions, and these cytokines were determined. The high percentage defined cases of thyroid pathology in tuberculous patients is caused the necessity the screening of thyroid function in tuberculous patients for in time diagnosis of its subclinical disorders and their correction to restore cytokines balance and improving of antituberculosis chemotherapy efficacy.