A study of oxidative stress in paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy.

BACKGROUND: The study and assessment of oxidative stress plays a significant role in the arena of leprosy treatment.Once the presence of oxidative stress is proved, antioxidant supplements can be provided to reduce tissue injury and deformity. AIM: To study oxidative stress in paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) leprosy and to compare it with that in a control group. METHODS: Fifty-eight untreated leprosy patients (23 PB and 35 MB cases) were studied and compared with 58 healthy controls. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) level as a measure of antioxidant status; malondialdehyde (MDA)level, an indicator of lipid peroxidation; and MDA/SOD ratio, an index of oxidative stress were estimated in the serum.RESULTS: The SOD level was decreased in leprosy patients, especially in MB leprosy. The MDA level was increased in PB and MB leprosy. The MDA/SOD ratio was significantly elevated in MB patients. There was a steady increase in this ratio along the spectrum from tuberculoid to lepromatous leprosy (LL). CONCLUSION: There is increased oxidative stress in MB leprosy, especially in LL. This warrants antioxidant supplements to prevent tissue injury.