Cytokine and hormone status of women of reproductive age with pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

Objective. To study the levels of cytokines (γ-interferon, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)) and hormones (cortisol, prolactin, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone) in blood serum of women of reproductive age with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).Materials and methods. We studied the serum levels of γ-interferon, tumor necrosis factor α, cortisol, prolactin, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone in women 18-45 years old with newly diagnosed pulmonary TB (n = 47) compared with the same indices in women without TB and with no previous TB (n = 35).Results. Women with pulmonary TB had higher levels of cortisol (cutoff point, 196.1 nmol/L, AUC 0.75, Se 85.1 %, Sp 70.6 %) and prolactin (cutoff point, 486, 1 mEU/L, AUC 0.69, Se 59.6%, Sp 73.5%) and lower serum progesterone levels (cutoff point 3.9 nmol/L, AUC 0.71, Se 73.9%, Sp 64.7%) than women without TB. The study of the levels of γ-interferon and TNF-α showed less diagnostic significance of the parameters, and there was a slight increase in the levels of both cytokines in women with pulmonary TB.Conclusion. Changes in cytokine-hormone status in women with TB can both reflect mechanisms of anti-infective defense and be a consequence of the development of the disease.