Serum zinc level estimation- comparision between normal control and in leprosy patients.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It principally affects the cooler parts of the body, mainly skin and peripheral nerves. Leprosy involves wide range of biochemical as well as immunological changes in the body including trace elements such as zinc, copper and magnesium. After iron, zinc is the second most abundant trace element in the body. This study has been undertaken to correlate with clinical presentations wherever possible and to investigate the level of serum zinc in leprosy. Study included 63 newly diagnosed leprosy. Cases were further distributed according to clinical subtypes and were compared to controls. Venous blood samples were collected and estimation of serum zinc level has been done with serum. Maximum patients detected were of Intermediate Leprosy (26.9) where as lesser (1.58)were of Histoid type. Pure tuberculoid and Indeterminate leprosy group showed minimum decrease and pure lepromatous and Erythema nodosum leprosum group showed maximum decrease in Serum Zinc level i.e. leprosy patients with increased bacterial load have decreased serum zinc levels. This suggests that there could be a correlation of serum zinc levels and the bacillary load.