Biochemical changes in case of tetanus and their relation to severity of the disease

ABSTRACT

Forty subjects were included in this study, they were divided into four groups; group 1 included 10 healthy individuals, group 2 comprised 10 patients with manifestations of mild tetanus, groups 3 included 10 patients with symptoms and signs of moderate tetanus and group 4 included 10 patients with symptoms and signs of sever form of tetanus. It was found that some biochemical changes correlated with the severity of the disease, the rise in creatine phosphokinase [CPK] and serum glutamic oxal acetic transaminase [SGOT] was significant in the groups of patients with moderate and severe disease. The rise in urea and creatinine was significant only in the severe form of the diseases. A battery of the four tests can thus help in determining the severity, and consequently, the prognosis of the disease. Thus cases that show no significant rise in CPK and SGOT only are considered of moderate severity. Significant rise in all of the 4 tests indicates a severe disease