Evaluation of Oxidative Stress among Treated Multibacillary and Paucibacillary Leprosy in Pakistan

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease associated with immune dysregulation and oxidative stress. Even after treatment, biochemical alterations may persist. This study aimed to evaluate oxidative stress and antioxidant status in treated multibacillary and paucibacillary leprosy patients compared with healthy controls. A comparative cross-sectional analysis was conducted including treated MB (n=73), treated PB (n=37) leprosy patients, and healthy controls (n=76). Biochemical parameters assessed included malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as an antioxidant enzyme. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, with p < 0.01 considered significant. MDA levels were significantly elevated in both treated MB (99.3 ± 4.26 nmol/100 ml) and PB (98.4 ± 2.42 nmol/100 ml) groups compared to controls (77.5 ± 3.48 nmol/100 ml) (p < 0.01), indicating increased oxidative stress. Among leprosy groups, MB patients showed slightly higher MDA levels than PB cases. SOD activity was significantly reduced in both treated MB (4.6 ± 0.69 U/ml) and PB (4.4 ± 0.87 U/ml) groups compared to controls (5.4 ± 0.39 U/ml) (p < 0.01), reflecting decreased antioxidant defense capacity. No major difference was observed between MB and PB groups in SOD levels. Both treated multibacillary and paucibacillary leprosy patients exhibit persistent oxidative stress characterized by elevated MDA levels and reduced SOD activity compared to healthy individuals. These findings suggest ongoing imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant systems even after treatment, highlighting the need for monitoring oxidative stress and considering antioxidant support in leprosy management.