Serum Protein Profile in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Abstract

This prospective study was done during the period; from October 2004 to July 2005. It compared serum levels of total proteins, albumin, globulins and Albumin/Globulin Ratio of 100 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis chosen randomly from Abu Anja hospital in Omdurman city (Khartoum state) and 50 apparently healthy individuals as controls group. The patients group had no significant difference in age mean compared with the controls group. The mean of age was (30.0900 ± SD 8.11918) years in the patients group compared with (29.3200 ± SD 5.86738) years in the controls group, (P> 0.05). There was no significant difference between male and female in both groups (patients and controls) on the levels of serum protein (T. protein, albumin, globulin and albumin/globulin ratio), (P > 0.05). The patients group had no significant difference in the mean of serum total protein levels compared to the controls group. The mean of serum total protein was (7.701 ± SD 0.6768 g/dl.) in the patients group compared with (7.586 ± SD 0.4576 g/dl.) in the controls group, (P> 0.05). Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis had a highly significant lower serum albumin levels compared with the controls group. The mean of serum albumin was (3.3980 ± SD 0.34873 g/dl.) in the patients group compared with (4.2260 ± SD 0.19672 g/dl.) in the controls group, (P<0.05). Also the patients group had a highly significant higher serum globulins levels compared with the controls group. The mean of serum globulins was (4.314 ± SD 0.6074 g/dl.) in the patients group compared with (3.3600 ± SD .38386 g/dl.) in the controls group, (P<0.05). The tuberculosis group had a highly significant lower in serum albumin/globulin ratio compared with the controls group. The mean of serum albumin/globulin ratio was (0.770 ± SD 0.1421 g/dl.) in the patients group compared with (1.247 ±SD 0.1430 g/dl.) in the control group, (P<0.05). It was concluded that pulmonary tuberculosis is one of the causes of reduced serum levels of albumin, albumin/globulin ratio and raised serum levels of globulins. However, it does not affect the serum levels total protein.