Biochemical changes in tuberculosis

INTRODUCTION: tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health issue with high morbidity and mortality rates especially in the developing countries. It is a multi-organ disease and can influence biochemical changes. This study sought to determine the influence of tuberculosis and its drug treatment on serum biochemical parameters in patients in Nigeria. METHODS: it was a descriptive observational cohort study on 150 subjects whose blood samples were analyzed for serum albumin, serum sodium, and serum potassium. The subjects were grouped into 3: TB group= 50 new TB subjects not on treatment, F group= 50 TB subjects on treatment for 2/12 or more and C group= 50 non-TB control subjects. These biochemical variables were compared between the 3 groups. RESULTS: male/female ratio was 1: 1.5, mean age 37.1±0.92 years, and range 18-65 years. The differences in mean values of serum albumin, calcium and sodium between the three groups were significant (p<0.001), whereas that of serum potassium was not significant (p=0.056). Those patients with new case TB had a significantly lower serum sodium, serum albumin and serum calcium than the control group and those on treatment, p<0.001. There was significant positive correlation between serum albumin and serum calcium (r=0.0.420, p<0.001) as well as serum sodium (r=0.310, p<0.001) in the study population. Similarly, the correlation between serum calcium and serum sodium was positive and significant (r=0.200, p=0.014). In contrast, the correlation between serum potassium and serum albumin and that between serum potassium and serum calcium was not significant. CONCLUSION: tuberculosis with or without anti-tuberculous medications was associated with significant reduction in serum albumin, serum sodium and serum calcium in this study.