Antioxidant factors, nitric oxide levels, and cellular damage in leprosy patients

Introduction The immune response caused by Mycobacterium leprae is a risk factor for the development of oxidative stress (OS) in leprosy patients. This study aimed to assess OS in leprosy patients before the use of a multidrug therapy. Methods We evaluated the nitric oxide (NO) concentration; antioxidant capacity; levels of malondialdehyde, methemoglobin and reduced glutathione; and the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in leprosy patients. Results We observed lower SOD activity in these leprosy patients; however, the NO levels and antioxidant capacity were increased. Conclusions The infectious process in response to M. leprae could primarily be responsible for the OS observed in these patients.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Schalcher,Taysa Ribeiro, Vieira,Jose Luiz Fernandes, Salgado,Claudio Guedes, Borges,Rosivaldo dos Santos, Monteiro,Marta Chagas
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT 2013
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822013000500645
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