Biochemical profiling of tuberculosis patients co-infected with hepatitis C virus

The present research work was planned to investigate the biochemical parameters in tuberculosis (TB) patients in comparison with healthy individual and TB patients co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). For the study, we determined liver enzymes, serum proteins, hemoglobin photometrically, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) by the Westergren method. The results showed a significant (P <0.05) increase in the level of alanine aminotransferase in the Test group (TB + HCV patients) and the TB control group when compared with the healthy control group. A non-significant (P >0.05) increase in the level of aspartate aminotransferase was observed in the Test group while a non-significantly (P >0.05) reduced level was observed in the TB control group when compared with healthy controls. Alkaline phosphatase was increased significantly (P <0.05) in the Test group but non-significantly (P >0.05) in the TB control group compared to healthy control group. Significant (P <0.05) variation in the concentration of serum proteins among different groups in the studied population was also observed. Significant (P <0.05) variation in hemoglobin concentration was observed only on comparing the Test group with healthy individuals (P = 0.013). No significant (P >0.05) variation in serum calcium level was observed among study groups. ESR was found to be lower in the healthy control group while significantly (P <0.05) increased in the Test and TB control groups. The HCV co-infected patients were investigated through HCV screening by the immunochromatographic method. We concluded that variation in biochemical and hematological parameters observed in the studied population help us to diagnose HCV co-infected TB patients.