Evaluation of thiol/disulfide balance in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum thiol disulfide levels in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) compared with a healthy control group and to investigate whether thiol/disulfide balance can be used as a new marker of oxidative stress in CL patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included 47 patients diagnosed with CL and 46 healthy individuals without any disease. Native thiol, disulfide and total thiol levels were used in plasma. Disulfide / total thiol, disulfide / native thiol and native thiol / total thiol levels were measured.

RESULTS: Disulfide, native thiol disulfide and total thiol disulfide levels were significantly lower in CL patients compared to the control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference between CL patients and the control group in terms of disulfide / native thiol, disulfide / total thiol and native thiol / total thiol values.

CONCLUSION: Based on the data in our study, it can be said that the use of thiol / disulfide balance as a new oxidative stress marker in CL patients is not appropriate, but studies with a larger number of patients are needed.