Serum nitrite levels in Sri Lankan patients with leptospirosis
10.1016/S1995-7645(11)60250-2
- Author:
Rohini I GUNARATNA
1
;
Shiroma M HANDUNNETTI
1
;
Shiroma M BULATHSINGHALAGE
1
;
Pranitha SOMARATNE
2
;
Ananda JAYANAGA
3
;
Senaka RAJAPAKSE
4
Author Information
1. Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IBMBB), University of Colombo
2. Department of Microbiology, Medical Research Institute, Colombo
3. Base Hospital
4. Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
- Collective Name:Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Leptospirosis;
Nitric oxide;
Nitrite;
Sri Lanka
- From:
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
2012;5(1):75-78
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To determine whether blood nitrite levels are elevated in patients with leptospirosis. Methods Male patients fulfilling clinical and epidemiological criteria for a diagnosis of leptospirosis were recruited. Those with MAT titre of ≤400 together with those seroconverting to a titer of ≤200 were included in the analysis. Serum nitrite levels were measured in these patients and age, sex matched healthy controls. Results Patients from 3 hospitals (n=75) were screened during a 3 month period from 28th June to 3rd September 2009, of whom 20 were eligible for the study. Serum nitrite levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with acute leptospirosis [n=20, (0.359±0.229)μ M] compared to controls [(n=13,(0.216±0.051)μ M](P=0.014). A significant correlation was also observed between the MAT titre and the day of illness (r = 0.547; P<0.0001). Conclusions Serum nitrite levels are higher in patients with acute leptospirosis compared to age and sex matched controls. No correlation could be assessed with severity of illness, as sample size was inadequate to determine this.
