Abstract:
uberculosis is still a worldwide health problem and one of the leading causes of death in young
adults. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a fatal illness caused by a retrovirus
known as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and leads to AIDS. This study was aimed to
compare oxidative stress and enzymatic anti-oxidants in patients of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB)
with and without HIV infection. The study population comprised of 50 patients, in the age group of
20 to 50 with sputum smear-positive by Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli grouped into two
groups [Group 1 (PTB) and group 2 (PTB coinfected with HIV)]. Estimation of MDA, haemoglobin,
enzymatic anti-oxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD) was done. There was a significant increase
in oxidative stress in patients of PTB patients with HIV infection compared to seronegative PTB
patients as assessed by raised MDA and significant decrease in the antioxidant enzymes like
SOD, GSH Px and Catalase.
