Status of zinc in pulmonary tuberculosis.
BACKGROUND
To study the status of zinc as a micronutrient in pulmonary tuberculosis, in our population, with the aim to see the effectiveness of therapy.


METHODS
This prospective study includes 50 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 30 subjects as the control group. The patients were placed into three stages (1 to 3) on the basis of chest radiographic findings. Serum zinc levels were estimated before, during, and after completion of antituberculosis therapy.


RESULTS
Statistically significant fall in serum zinc levels was seen with advanced age and disease, and the levels improved after initiation of antituberculosis therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Estimation of serum zinc levels is an important tool in diagnosis and monitoring of response to treatment in pulmonary tuberculosis, and even a booster of the immunological mechanisms if instituted during the course of treatment.
Ghulam
Hassan
H
Department Of Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.
Kadri
Syed Manzoor
SM
Manzoor
Ahmad
A
Waseem
Qureshi
Q
Aatif
Mohammad Syed
MS
Khan
Ghulam Qadir
GQ
Manish
Kak
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
D015032:Zinc