[Red blood cell metabolic changes in patients with acutely progressive pulmonary tuberculosis]

In 52 patients with acutely progressive pulmonary tuberculosis (APPT), their red blood cells were used to determine the values of their energy metabolism by lactate dehydrogenase (LDG) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDG), the antioxidative defense from the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase and from the levels of malonic dialdehyde (MDA), as well as the intraerythrocytic level of platelet activation factor (PAF) and 2,3-diphosphoglycerinic acid (2,3-DPGA). The concentration of plasma hemoglobin (Hb) was measured as an indicator of spontaneous hemolysis. In the red blood cells from patients with APPT, the activity of LDG and SOD was found to be drastically suppressed, the content of MDA was increased, the intracellular level of PAF was lowered and the concentration of 2,3-DPGA was very moderately elevated. The plasma concentration of free Hb is thrice as high as the normal value. Following 3 months of chemotherapy with 4-5 drugs, the activity of LDG became higher, yet remaining less than the normal values and that of G-6-PDG significantly dropped. The activity of SOD and catalase increased, but the level of MDA remained high. There was a drastic fall in the intracellular levels of PAF. The plasma concentration of free Hb dropped, but remaining significantly higher than the normal values. Possible ways of correcting the changes found are discussed in the paper.