Association of α-TNF and Iron parameters in anemic and non-anemic Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB)

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis has been a major killer globally for centuries and has now become the tenth leading cause of death worldwide. It is an air-borne chaos that induces systemic inflammation and is commonly linked with different comorbid clinical conditions such as anemia. In chronic diseases such as pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), inflammation due to bacterial burden plays a vital role in the Pathophysiology of anemia.

 Methodology: A comparative type of case-control study that included 40 newly diagnosed anemic PTB (cases) and 40 newly diagnosed non-anemic PTB (controls) of either gender having age group of 20-70 years. The PTB was confirmed by microscopic examination of sputum specimen for the detection of Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB). Serum iron was analyzed by ferrozine method and α-TNF were analyzed by ELISA method. SPSS 20 version were used for the statistical analysis.

 Results: Significantly higher levels of α-TNF (225.77±77.49) were observed in anemic PTB cases than that of non-anemic PTB cases (p<0.001). A significant inverse correlation was observed between α-TNF and iron(p<0.05) and a positive association between α-TNF and Ferritin (p<0.05) in both groups.

 Conclusion: Increased α-TNF gives rise to higher bacterial burden, lower iron levels and higher ferritin levels in anemic PTB patients than in non-anemic PTB.