[Markers of alteration of tissue structures as indicators of pulmonary tuberculosis activity]

Some indices that reflect the damaging processes in the cells and tissue structures have been found in 152 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and in those with inactive lung tissue changes. There is evidence for that increases in the activity of plasma 5'-nucleotidase, ceruloplasmin/transferrin ratio and the appearance of free radical compounds in the plasma are accompaniments of active pulmonary tuberculosis. It is found that the greatest changes in these parameters are, the more acutely the disease runs, the more pronounced an exudative component in the general picture of inflammation is. If there are positive changes in these indices during combined therapy, the activity of 5'-nucleotidase becomes normal just after 5-6 months, and the values of other indices tends to normalize after treatment termination. A combined determination of the ceruloplasmin/transferrin ratio and the plasma levels of free radical compounds allows the activity of a tuberculous process to be established in 70% of cases.