Biochemical changes in adult Nigerians with pulmonary tuberculosis in Kano-Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis is one of the re-emerging diseases often associated with poverty and HIV/AIDS especially in sub saharan Africa. Hypercalcaemia is known to be associated with chronic granulomatous diseases such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis and lymphoma. Reports of changes in biochemical parameters in patients with TB have been reported elsewhere. Aim: This study was aimed at assessing changes in some biochemical parameters in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Subjects and Methods: Fifty seven TB patients confirmed by culture and/or sputum smear were recruited consecutively over a period of twenty months. Serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, transaminases, proteins, urea, electrolytes and creatinine were assayed using Express plus chemistry autoanalyzer and fp 20 flame photometer. 50 male and 7 female subjects were recruited from among staff and students of the hospital as controls. Results: The mean corrected calcium level was 2.54±0.02mmol/l,albumin 24.0±1.27g/L, aspartate aminotransferase 47.6+3.0U/l, alanine aminotransferase 26±1.6Ul, sodium 135±0.8 mmol/l and bicarbonate 20±0.82mmol/l. Statistically significant difference (