Efetividade de vitamina E na redução do estresse oxidativo, em hansenianos da forma multibacilar sob tratamento

Abstract

The disease leprosy, in multibacilar form, is treated with dapsone, clofazimine and rifampicin, and this therapeutics produce oxidative stress, causing methemoglobinemin and Heinz body. To prevent the oxidative stress, the vitamin E has been using, due to its antioxidant action. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the vitamin E in leprosy patient, under treatment, in the multibacilar form, with the hypothesis that could have reduction of the oxidative stress produced by using medication. The study involved 32 leprosy patients of the multibacilar form, in treatment with dapsone, clofazimine and rifampicin. The presence of the oxidative stress was verified previously and later, the patients were divided in 2 groups, randomly, with 16 patients in each group, denominated: group "with vitamin E" and "control". The patients of the group "with vitamin E" used of 800 UI/day, orally, of vitamin E and the group "control" did not make use of vitamin supplement. After 30, 60 and 90 days of supplemental treatment, samples of blood of the 2 groups were collected to determine the metahemoglobin concentration, presence of Heinz bodies and ferritin levels. The results of ferritin levels were submitted to the statistic test of Mann-Whitney, and the one of methemoglobin and Heinz body were submitted to the exact test of Fisher. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups. It is concluded that the vitamin E in the dose and treatment duration used, did not protect against the oxidative stress caused by dapsone, clofazimine and rifampicin used by the leprosy patients in multibacilar form, and it did not reduce serum the ferritin levels.