Efetividade da vitamina E na redução do estresse oxidativo em hansenianos da forma multibacilar sob tratamento

Abstract

Abstract The disease, multibacillary leprosy, is treated with dapsone,clofazimine and rifampicin, with this therapy causing oxidativestress, leading to methemoglobinemia and the formation of Heinzbodies. Due to its antioxidant action, vitamin E has been used toprevent oxidative stress. Our objective was to evaluate theeffectiveness of vitamin E in patients with multibacillary leprosywith the hypothesis that this medication may reduce the oxidativestress produced. The study involved 32 patients with multibacillaryleprosy being treated with dapsone, clofazimine and rifampicin.The presence of oxidative stress was initially confirmed andsubsequently the patients were randomly divided into two equalgroups denominated as group “taking vitamin E” and “control”. Thepatients of the group “taking vitamin E” orally ingested 800 UI/dailyof vitamin E and the group “control” did not take any vitaminsupplement. After 30, 60 and 90 days of treatment, blood samples ofthe two groups were drawn to determine the metahemoglobinconcentration, presence of Heinz bodies and ferritin levels. The resultsof ferritin levels were submitted to the Mann-Whitney statistical testand the results of methemoglobin concentrations and Heinz bodycounts were submitted to the Fisher’s exact test. There were nosignificant differences between the two groups. In conclusion, vitaminE at the dose and for the treatment duration used, neither protectedagainst the oxidative stress caused by dapsone, clofazimine andrifampicin used by patients with multibacillary leprosy nor did itreduce serum ferritin levels.