02054nas a2200337   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001500059653001000074653001700084653001000101653002100111653001100132653001200143653002300155653002000178653001600198653002100214653000900235653002500244100001300269700001200282700001700294700001600311245007800327856005300405300000700458490000700465520123000472022001401702       2008                            d  c2008 Jan-Feb10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAntioxidants10aChild10aChild, Preschool10aHumans10aleprosy10aLipid Peroxidation10aMalondialdehyde10aMiddle Aged10aOxidative Stress10aSkin10aSuperoxide Dismutase1 aJyothi P1 aRiyaz N1 aNandakumar G1 aBinitha M P00aA study of oxidative stress in paucibacillary and multibacillary leprosy.  uhttp://www.ijdvl.com/text.asp?2008/74/1/80/38428  a800 v743 a<p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>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.</p><p><b>AIM: </b>To study oxidative stress in paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) leprosy and to compare it with that in a control group.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>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.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>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).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>There is increased oxidative stress in MB leprosy, especially in LL. This warrants antioxidant supplements to prevent tissue injury.</p>  a0973-3922