Biochemical and nutritional evaluation of patients with visceral leishmaniasis before and after treatment with leishmanicidal drugs.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by the intracellular protozoan Leishmania donovani complex. VL may be asymptomatic or progressive and is characterized by fever, anemia, weight loss and the enlargement of the spleen and liver. The nutritional status of the patients with VL is a major determinant of the progression, severity and mortality of the disease, as it affects the clinical progression of the disease. Changes in lipoproteins and plasma proteins may have major impacts in the host during infection. Thus, our goal was evaluate the serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides, glucose, albumin, globulin and total protein levels, as well as the body composition, of VL patients before and after treatment.

METHODS:

Nutritional evaluation was performed using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to assess body composition. Biochemical data on the serum total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, glucose, albumin, globulin and total protein were collected from the medical charts of the patients.

RESULTS:

BIA indicated that both pre-treatment and post-treatment patients exhibited decreased phase angles compared to the controls, which is indicative of disease. Prior to treatment, the patients exhibited lower levels of total body water compared to the controls. Regarding the biochemical evaluation, patients with active VL exhibited lower levels of total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and albumin and higher triglyceride levels compared to patients after treatment and the controls. Treatment increased the levels of albumin and lipoproteins and decreased the triglyceride levels.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results suggest that patients with active VL present biochemical and nutritional changes that are reversed by treatment.

• Authors: Mariana Gatto, Mariana Miziara de Abreu, Karen Ingrid Tasca, José Cláudio Simão, Carlos Magno Castelo Branco Fortaleza, Paulo Câmara Marques Pereira, Sueli Aparecida Calvi
• Journal: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (Rev Soc Bras Med Trop) 2013 Nov-Dec Vol. 46 Issue 6 Pg. 735-40 ISSN: 1678-9849 [Electronic] Brazil
• PMID: 24474015 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Albumins
• Antiprotozoal Agents
• Globulins
• Lipids
• Proteins
• Glucose

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Albumins (analysis)
• Antiprotozoal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Body Mass Index
• Female
• Globulins (analysis)
• Glucose (analysis)
• Humans
• Leishmaniasis, Visceral (blood, drug therapy)
• Lipids (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nutrition Assessment
• Proteins (analysis)
• Young Adult