Some Haematological Parameters and Immunoglobulin Levels in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infected Patients in Benin City, Southern Nigeria

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection is a major public health challenge in Nigeria. This research aims at determining the effect of MTB infections on some haematological and immunological parameters in MTB patients in Benin, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty subjects were recruited for the studies. These subjects comprised of 50 MTB positives, 50 MTB positives on direct observation and treatment (DOTS), and 50 controls. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi campus. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects recruited for the studies. Five milliliters of blood was collected from each subject for HIV test by ELISA method, CD4 count by Flow Cytometeric technique, immunoglobulin test by immune-turbidimetric method, estimation of leucocyte profile by automated haematological analyser and ESR by routine method. In addition, sputum was collected from each subject for Ziehl Neelsen technique of Mycobacterium tuberculosis examination. Statistical Package for Social Science (version 20) was used for the data analysis. Results obtained from the study showed that the comparison of the WBC of the control subjects and MTB positive subjects was significantly higher in the MTB positive subjects (p < 0.05). Also, WBC of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) positive subjects was significantly higher than MTB positives on DOTS. The CD4 count of DOTS administered MTB positives was significantly higher than non-DOTS MTB positive subjects (p < 0.05). The mean values of immunoglobulin A, G, M (IgA, IgG and IgM) in MTB positive subjects were significantly higher compared with the values in the controls (p < 0.05). Also, IgG value in the DOTS administered MTB positive subjects was significantly higher than the mean value in the control subjects. In same manner, the IgA and IgM value for non-DOTS in each case was higher than MTB on DOTS subjects (p < 0.05). The value of Haematocrit (HCT) and Lymphocyte (LYM) count were significantly higher in control subjects when compared with DOTS administered MTB positives and MTB positives in each case (p < 0.05). The value of neutrophil for MTB positives was significantly higher than the value in the control subjects (p < 0.05). Thus Immunoglobulin G, A, and M could be used as a predictive marker for monitoring MTB infections, alongside haematological parameters and CD4 count.