Comparative Study of Lipid Profile in Treated and Untreated Multibacillary Leprosy Patients and Healthy Controls

Abstract

Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, can impact various metabolic processes, including lipid metabolism. Changes in the serum lipid profile have been documented in individuals with Multibacillary (MB) leprosy, and these changes may differ based on treatment status. To assess and contrast the lipid profiles of treated and untreated Multibacillary leprosy patients with those of healthy controls. This comparative study involved untreated MB leprosy patients (n=76), treated MB leprosy patients (n=73), and healthy controls (n=76). The parameters of the serum lipid profile, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, were analyzed and compared across the groups. Statistical tests were applied to assess significance, with a p-value of less than 0.01 deemed significant. Untreated patients with MB leprosy exhibited significantly lower mean levels of total cholesterol (117.0 ± 16.39 mg%), triglycerides (105.8 ± 37.62 mg%), and LDL cholesterol (98.4 ± 12.01 mg%) compared to controls (140.0 ± 15.72 mg%, 124.3 ± 19.51 mg%, and 113.4 ± 27.5 mg%, respectively; p=0.001). Nonetheless, the levels of HDL cholesterol in untreated patients (48.2 ± 5.08 mg%) were significantly greater than those in the control group (40.2 ± 4.94 mg%). Treated MB leprosy patients also showed significantly lower levels of total cholesterol (129 ± 10.0 mg%), triglycerides (97.3 ± 12.26 mg%), and LDL cholesterol (90.7 ± 7.79 mg%) compared to controls, while HDL cholesterol levels were significantly higher (45.9 ± 3.70 mg%) (p=0.001). The comparison of treated and untreated MB leprosy patients showed that total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in treated patients, while triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels were lower in treated cases compared to untreated cases (p=0.001). Multibacillary leprosy is linked to considerable changes in lipid metabolism. Both treated and untreated MB leprosy patients showed lower levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol, along with higher HDL cholesterol, when compared to healthy controls. The therapy seemed to enhance total cholesterol levels, suggesting a partial restoration of lipid metabolism after treatment.