[Some metabolic characteristics of circulating phagocytes in patients with different types of pulmonary tuberculosis]

Before and 2 and 3 months after chemotherapy, spontaneous and BCG-stimulated nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) tests, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, the levels of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) and platelet activation factor (PAF) in isolated mononuclear cells and neutrophils were estimated in 169 patients with different forms of pulmonary tuberculosis. Before treatment, in the patients the monocytic bactericidal potential assessed by NBT test parameters was found to increase, but the neutrophilic one reduced due to their basal overirritation. All other test parameters were higher in both types of cells. The magnitude and balance of changes were interrelated to the onset and nature of the process. Following 3 months of treatment, the bactericidal potential increased much more in the monocytes and returned to normal values if the changes in the processes were favourable. In both types of the cells, SOD activity became normal to normal values, MDA levels were maintained in the normal range due to the a preserved enhancement in catalase activity. PAF remained in the upper normal range. Both types of the cells showed drastically increased levels of MDA and drastically decreased PAF levels with progression due to therapy.