NITRIC OXIDE LEVELS AND OXIDANT-ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITIES IN PATIENTS WITH BRUCELLOSIS

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate relationships among serum nitric oxide (NO) concentrations, total oxidant-antioxidant capacities (TOC-TAC), serum C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanin Aminotransferase (ALT) and hematological parameters in Brucella seropositive (serum samples positive for Brucella) and seronegative (serum samples negative for Brucella) human serum samples. Materials and methods: Eighty positive and 20 negative human sera to Brucella Serum Tube Agglutination Test were used for determination of NO, TOC-TAC, CRP, AST, ALT. Results: Serum TOC concentrations were significantly (P<0.01) higher in Brucella seropositive titers compared to Brucella seronegative serum samples regardless of titers. However, there was no difference among different seropositive titers for serum TOC concentrations. In contrast, no effect of Brucella antibody titers on serum NO, TAC, CRP, AST and ALT levels was proved. However, AST concentration tended to be (P<0.07) higher at 1/640 titer. While Brucella antibody titers decreased leukocyte (P<0.05) and increased erythrocyte (P<0.05) counts at 1/640 titers with no change at 11160 and 1/320 titers, no effect of Brucella antibody titers was detected on thrombocyte counts. There was a positive correlation between Brucella antibody titers and TOC (r=0,44; P<0,01), AST (r=0,23; P=0,05) levels and erythrocyte counts (r=0,32; P<0,01); whereas, there was a negative correlation between Brucella antibody titers and leukocyte counts (r=-0.32; P<0,01). Conclusion: The increase in TOC levels and steady state levels of TAC could reveal that antioxidant system was efficient during the course of brucellosis. Furthermore, determination of TOC/TAC system along with hematological and inflammatory parameters may be helpful monitoring and better understanding the pathogenesis of brucellosis.