Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in tuberculosis, nontuberculosis pulmonary disease and healthy subjects. Materials and methods: In this case-control study we determined the serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in 36 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 38 nontuberculosis pulmonary disease and 49 healthy controls. Results: The results showed that serum paraoxonase (PON) activity was significantly lower in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (61.10 ± 51.62 IU/L) than healthy controls (98.79 ± 68.79 IU/L) (p < 0.05). In addition we found that the level of PON activity was significantly lower in patients with nontuberculosis pulmonary disease (67.49 ± 47.88 IU/L) than normal individuals (p < 0.05). There was no significant differences regarding PON activity between patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and nontuberculosis pulmonary disease (p > 0.05). The arylesterase activity was significantly lower in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis than nontuberculosis pulmonary disease and normal subjects (p < 0.05). Discussion: The lower paraoxonase and aryesterase activities in pulmonary tuberculosis patients compared to healthy subjects might be due to imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant systems in pulmonary tuberculosis patients which needs more clarification.