Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Adenosine Deaminase Activity in Leprosy.
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Date
2013-10
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Abstract
Serum Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) acts as marker
of cellular immunity and its activity is found to be altered
in various diseases in which there is a cell mediated
immune response (CMI) including leprosy. The role of
zinc is well established in the development and
maintainence of immunocompetence and its supplementation
activates the immune response in particular Tlymphocytes
and monocytes in several ways. The aim of
the study was planned to evaluate the effect of nutritional
zinc supplementation on cell mediated immune response
by investigating the pre and post intervention serum ADA
levels after oral zinc sulphate supplementation in leprosy
patients.
A total of 49 cases, 30 Tuberculoid Leprosy (TT) and
19 Lepromatous Leprosy (LL) patients, within the age
group of 25-60 years were enrolled in the study along with
30 age matched healthy controls. Serum ADA was
estimated in all the subjects before and after (2 months and
4 months) oral zinc supplementation. Pre intervention serum
ADA level was observed to be significantly increased in
both the TT and LL (p<0.001) groups as compared to
controls, revealing raised immunological activity in the
patients. After oral zinc sulphate supplementation serum
ADA re-evaluation was done in 38 cases. A highly significant
(p < 0.001 ) rise in ADA level was registered in the post
intervention period (4 months supplementation) in TT cases
with a moderately significant (p< 0.05) increase in LL cases,
indicating the ability of oral zinc therapy to affectively alter
the cell mediated immune response in leprosy.
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Keywords
adenosine deaminase (ADA), cell mediated immunity (CMI), zinc
Citation
Pradhan T, Kumari S. Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Adenosine Deaminase Activity in Leprosy. Indian Medical Gazette. 2013 Oct ; 147 (10): 376-380.