Received: May 17, 2007.

Accepted: September 18, 2007.

Abstract published online: September 24, 2007.

Full paper published online: March 8, 2008.

PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS: HEMATOLOGY, SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY AND THE RELATION WITH THE DISEASE DURATION

OLIVA V. M. (1), CEZÁRIO G. A. G. (2), COCATO R. A. (2), MARCONDES-MACHADO J. (2)

(1) Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil; (2) Department of Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between hematological and biochemical parameters and tuberculosis process activity time according to clinical complaint duration. It was a retrospective study analyzing medical records from 80 pulmonary tuberculosis patients at Botucatu Medical School University Hospital (Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil), who were divided into 2 groups according to clinical complaint duration: Group 1 (G1) – up to three months; Group 2 (G2) – over three months. Parameters included: age, gender, bacilloscopy, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), platelet count, alpha1-globulin, alpha2-globulin, gamma globulin, mucoprotein, alpha1-acid glycoprotein values, and the presence of risk factors such as smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual promiscuity, contact with tuberculosis carriers, and previous treatment. Groups were compared by calculating t and p, and Chi-square (X2) and p. Comparisons revealed a tendency towards smoking with a higher frequency of smokers in G1 (0.05<p<0.10). G1 also tended to present greater platelet values than G2 (0.05<p<0.10) and presented significantly higher ESR values than G2 (p<0.05). Other factors did not show any significantly different behavior between groups (p>0.05). A correlation was found between ESR, platelet count, smoking and less than three months clinical duration.

KEY WORDS: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, smoking, hematolological and biochemical parameters, erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

JUSSARA MARCONDES-MACHADO, Departamento de Doenças Tropicais, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP, Distrito de Rubião Júnior, S/N, 18618-000, Botucatu, SP, Brasil. Phone: +55 14 3811 6212.

Email: jussaramarcondes@uol.com.br.