Evaluation of serum proteins in pulmonary tuberculosis

Aim: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem throughout the world, especially in developing countries with its attendant mortality and morbidity. Proteins in plasma or serum are readily accessible and can be analyzed directly to produce diagnostic information on disease states in patients.

Methods: 5ml of venous blood was collected from One hundred (100) volunteers which comprised fifty (50) pulmonary tuberculosis patients and fifty (50) age – sex matched apparently healthy subjects as controls. The levels of total proteins, albumin, globulins and albumin/globulin ratio were determined in pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

Results: Our results show significantly increased total protein, albumin and globulins in pulmonary tuberculosis patients when compared with controls but no significant difference was observed in the albumin/globulin ratio. There was gender difference in globulin levels.

Conclusion: The study has heightened the imperative of serum proteins assay in the management of pulmonary tuberculosis. Keywords: Pulmonary tuberculosis, Total proteins, Albumin, Globulins.