01954nas a2200373   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001000059653001200069653002500081653001100106653001100117653001000128653001300138653002300151653001200174653000900186653001600195653001300211653001700224653001300241653001400254653001000268653001600278100001100294700001500305700001100320245008100331856008600412300001000498490000700508520105100515022001401566       2010                            d  c2010 Jul-Sep10aAdult10aCadmium10aCase-Control Studies10aFemale10aHumans10aIndia10aKinetics10aLeprostatic Agents10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aNitrates10aNitric Oxide10aNitrites10aPrognosis10aSerum10aYoung Adult1 aBoga P1 aShetty V P1 aKhan Y00aNitric oxide metabolites in sera of patients across the spectrum of leprosy.  uhttp://www.ijl.org.in/archives/jul-sep-2010/Art%202(2)(BOGA%20ET%20AL)123-129.pdf  a123-90 v823 a<p>Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae infection, manifests itself as a clinical spectrum depending on the patients' immunological response, finally leading to peripheral nerve damage and deformities in the patients. Nitric oxide (NO) which is known to contribute to pathogenesis of several neurological diseases has been detected in tissues and urine of leprosy patients. This is the first study assessing NO as its stable end products, nitrites and nitrates, in sera of patients across the spectrum of the disease as a possible parameter of prognostic value. Comparison of NO metabolites showed a significant increase in multibacillary patients and patients with type I reactions as compared to healthy control individuals. These levels reduced significantly after treatment. This study has further borne out the utility and reliability of the cadmium-reduction method of estimation of NO metabolites--a relatively inexpensive procedure that lends itself to large-scale screening and follow-up of patients.</p>  a0254-9395