title: Circulating nitric oxide and C-reactive protein levels in Indian kala azar patients: correlation with clinical outcome.
abstract: Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and nitric oxide (NO) are the major players of the host defense against Leishmania. In the present study circulating levels of IFN-gamma, NO, interleukin (IL)-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were compared in kala azar (KA), post-kala azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) and healthy controls. A significantly elevated level of these parameters was evident in KA compared to PKDL or control. Further, significantly elevated levels of IFN-gamma, NO and CRP were observed in sodium antimony gluconate (SAG) unresponsive cases compared to responsive cases. In PKDL cases, NO was significantly elevated while other parameters were comparable to control. At post-treatment stage, KA patients showed a significant decrement in all the parameters, however, IL-6 and CRP remained above control level. Hence, data implies that the parasites survive in spite of the presence of effector molecules, and the excessive release of IFN-gamma and NO could be associated with the progression of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Lab., Institute of Pathology (ICMR), Safdarjung Hospital Campus, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Nasim Akhtar
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Paresh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Poonam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salotra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000276:immunology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein