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Serum protein profile in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

A detailed study of the alterations in the serum protein fractions following commencement of effective anti-tuberculosis treatment was undertaken in 511 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. The concentration of serum albumin was 20-30 per cent higher (P<0.001) and that of a1, a2 and g -globulins significantly lower at the end of treatment than on admission (P <0.01), the magnitude of decrease being 7-17 per cent for g -globulin, 19-30 per cent for a1- globulin and 35-38 per cent for a2- globulin. In all, 481 patients had a favourable response to treatment, 46 of whom had a bacteriological relapse within 18 months of stopping treatment. The likelihood of a relapse was found to be greater with higher a2 -globulin concentrations at the end of treatment, the proportions of patients who relapsed being 3, 9, 13 and 15 per cent with a2 -globulin concentrations of < 0.40, 0.40-0.59, 0.60-0.79 and > 0.80 g/dl (P=0.02)

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