title: Antioxidant factors, nitric oxide levels, and cellular damage in leprosy patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The immune response caused by Mycobacterium leprae is a risk factor for the development of oxidative stress (OS) in leprosy patients. This study aimed to assess OS in leprosy patients before the use of a multidrug therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the nitric oxide (NO) concentration; antioxidant capacity; levels of malondialdehyde, methemoglobin and reduced glutathione; and the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in leprosy patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed lower SOD activity in these leprosy patients; however, the NO levels and antioxidant capacity were increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The infectious process in response to M. leprae could primarily be responsible for the OS observed in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Pará, BelémPA.
authors.forename: Taysa Ribeiro
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Schalcher
authors.forename: Jose Luiz Fernandes
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Claudio Guedes
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.forename: Rosivaldo dos Santos
authors.initials: Rdos S
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Marta Chagas
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005978:Glutathione