Oxidative metabolic changes in pleural fluid of tuberculosis patients

Abstract

The pleural fluid was aspirated from the tuberculous patients both untreated and under treatment with three months anti-tuberculosis therapy. The amount of malondialdehyde, lactate dehydrogenase, and total protein content in pleural fluid of untreated tuberculous patients were found to be significantly higher when compared with under treatment group. The pleural fluid total antioxidant levels were significantly lower in untreated cases in comparison to under treatment. Decrease in the total antioxidant status was more pronounced in untreated cases, established that antioxidants were nearly completely utilized to scavenge the free radicals. Our findings further support the importance of antioxidants in the treatment of tuberculous patient.