Increased lipid peroxidation in lepromatous leprosy.

The biochemical marker of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured in plasma of 70 leprosy patients. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) was also measured in the patients and the values were compared with 15 normal healthy controls. Mean plasma MDA level was lowest (3.225 ± 0.24) in tuberculoid leprosy (TT), while it was highest (4.516 ± 0.54) in lepromatous leprosy (LL). Whereas, SOD activity was highest in TT (34.05 ± 2.46) and it was lowest (25.84 ± 5.67 units/mg Hb) in LL. The ratio of MDA/SOD as the blood index of oxidative stress was also determined. It was found that mean ratio was lowest in TT (0.095) while it was highest (0.185) in LL. These results strongly indicate increased oxidative stress in LL which appears to have resulted due to low antioxidant defence in LL.