ABSTRACT
Background: Brucellosis is a significant health problem inducing about 3% of acute febrile illnesses in Egypt. Superoxide dismutases [SODs] are a class of enzymes that catalyze the dismutation of superoxide into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide and so, represent an important antioxidant defense in nearly all cells exposed to oxidation, as occurs in acute brucellosis
Aim of the Work: This study was designed to assess SOD serum level during treatment of patients with acute Brucellosis
Patients and Methods: Twenty six patients with acute brucellosis [positive Standard tube agglutination test [SAT], who were attending the out-patient clinic of Benha Fever Hospital, were enrolled in this work as the study group [Group I]. They were cross matched with 10 healthy subjects negative for SAT test [Group II]. Both groups were subjected to measurement of SOD serum level by Enzyme Linked Immune Sorbent Assay [ELISA] that was assessed to patients again 3- and 6-weeks after initiation of combined therapy for acute brucellosis with Rifampicin and doxycycline
Results: Age and gender had no impact on SOD level in assessed patients. The SOD level was significantly lower in cases than the control group, [37.5+/-18.12 ng/ml] for the control Vs [[10.5±9.09 and 23.85+/-5.19 ng/ml] P<0.05] both before- and 3 weeks after-initiation of therapy. It was progressively rising during the treatment [TTT] course and its level showed no significant difference with control at the sixth week of TTT [33.31+/-7.092 ng/ml] [P > 0.05]. Also there was a significant difference in SOD levels for cases both before and at end of TTT
Conclusion: Serum levels of SOD were significantly lower in patients with acute brucellosis before TTT, compared with control and those after- 6 weeks of continuous TTT. The activity of SOD was progressively increased as TTT continues, finally reaching that of healthy subjects