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Assessment of Serum Calcium and Phosphorus in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Before, During and After Chemotherapy

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Abstract

Our study was aimed to assess the levels of serum calcium and phosphorus in pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Blood samples were collected from 40 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis before treatment (PTB-0), at the end of 2 months of intensive phase of treatment (PTB-2) and after 6 months of treatment (PTB-6). Age and weight matched normal healthy volunteers (n = 37) served as normal controls. Serum was analyzed for calcium and phosphorus. Serum calcium significantly decreased to hypocalcemic levels and serum phosphorus significantly decreased but was within normophosphatemic limits in pulmonary tuberculosis. Chemotherapy for tuberculosis managed to raise serum levels of both the ions, with hypocalcemia still persisting in majority of patients during treatment but getting resolved in a significant percentage of patients at the end of 6 months of treatment. Results indicate the need for calcium and phosphorus supplements in tuberculosis patients during chemotherapy. This study also warrants the need for regular monitoring of serum calcium and phosphorus in patients undergoing anti-tuberculosis treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, AIMST University, 08100, Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia

    K. Rohini

  2. Melaka Manipal Medical College, Melaka, Malaysia

    Surekha Bhat

  3. Unit of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, AIMST University, Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia

    P. S. Srikumar

  4. Madras Medical Mission Hospital, Chennai, India

    A. Mahesh Kumar

Authors
  1. K. Rohini
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  2. Surekha Bhat
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  3. P. S. Srikumar
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  4. A. Mahesh Kumar
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Correspondence to K. Rohini.

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Rohini, K., Bhat, S., Srikumar, P.S. et al. Assessment of Serum Calcium and Phosphorus in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Before, During and After Chemotherapy. Ind J Clin Biochem 29, 377–381 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-013-0383-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-013-0383-3

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