Lesional levels of superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde in paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy patients

Background: Leprosy or Hansen’s disease (HD) is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The ratio of malondialdehyde (MDA)/superoxide dismutase (SOD) may be considered as an index of oxidative stress (OS). Objective: To assess the OS by estimating the levels of antioxidant enzyme (SOD), lipid peroxidation products (MDA) and the ratio of MDA/SOD in the skin of paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) leprosy patients. Patients and methods: This case-control study was conducted on 41 untreated leprosy patients (18 patients with PB type and 23 patients with MB type) attending Sohag’s Dermatology and Leprosy Clinic, in addition to 18 healthy controls. Colorimetric assays of MDA and SOD levels in the tissue homogenates of the skin biopsies taken from the patient and control groups were performed. Results: There were statistically significantly higher levels of tissue MDA and statistically significantly lower levels of tissue SOD in leprosy patients when compared with the control group (P
Source: Journal of the Egyptian Women’s Dermatologic Society - Category: Dermatology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research